Newham Council has launched a new fund to support children and young people achieve their ambitions and help remove financial barriers.
The Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) will provide financial assistance to support the purchase of resources, training or equipment to help children and young people pursue their goals and improve their opportunities. The fund has been developed after discussion with and direct input from young people.
The grants range from £100 to £2,500 and can be used to pay for training courses, computer equipment, tuition fees or bursaries, and much more. The fund is available to children and young people aged nine to 25 years, living in Newham, whose family is in receipt of means-tested benefits.
Young people will be part of the YEF applications assessment panel, helping to decide the recipients of the fund. The panel will look at the challenges faced by each applicant and how they will benefit from financial help.
Delivered by the Youth Empowerment Service, the fund supports Newham’s Year of the Young Person initiative, which champions, empowers and inspires children and young people to be the best they can be.
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “When I was elected, I committed to give young people a real voice in how our youth services work and that means listening to them about what can help them achieve their goals.
“It’s crucial that we take away as many barriers as possible to help them undertake activities that can progress them in their development. The Youth Empowerment Fund is part of the council’s ongoing investment in its young people to put them front and centre of our priorities and give them influence and opportunity. It is Community Wealth Building in action. Through this fund, our children and young people can get support to access resources to help take them a step closer to realising their dreams. By delivering this fund alongside our young people, it drives our aim for a more connected, equitable and prosperous borough.”
The young panellists, who will help decide the recipients of the fund, will undergo skills training for their role on the panel, giving them the opportunity to be part of solution to support their peers.
For more information about the Youth Empowerment Fund and how to apply, visit www.newham.gov.uk/youthempowermentfund