Youth Sector Capacity Building Grants

What is the fund?

Grants to strengthen the sustainability of voluntary sector youth organisations.

We know that the hardest things to fund in a charity or community group are an organisation’s core costs. We also know that ambitious applications and reporting can use more resources than the fund itself. This is why this fund is an offer of support to help fund those areas of your organisation that are most difficult to fund.

Who is it for?

Organisations who work with young people aged 8–25 years old operating in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse.

Application Criteria

A maximum of £3,000 per organisation/service and a maximum of one fund per organisation per financial year
Your annual turnover is lower than £200k
All funds must be spent by the end of August 2026
If you are not already part of the Changemaker Network, we will sign you up so you can continue to be part of the county network and receive ongoing support
Each organisation must meet the application criteria, and report back to us about how this made a difference and impact

How could you use this money?

Anything that genuinely frees your time from fundraising, builds capacity and skills in your team, and enhances your work with young people, including:

To support core functions of your organisation, such as fundraising, HR and finance
Shared Training Programmes
Basic Tools for monitoring and safeguarding

What we cannot fund

Private individuals, private companies, public regulatory bodies, countywide charities without a local focus, uniformed groups or sports clubs
Youth work delivery or project work
Improvements to land or buildings
Capital Expenditure or Reserves

When do I need to apply?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis – there is no closing date. The fund will close once all money has been allocated. All grants must be spent by August 2026.

Oxfordshire Youth are here to support you. We offer advice and guidance to help you submit your Expression of Interest, and if you are successful and awarded funding, you will continue to have access to our team, who can offer ongoing support as you deliver and shape your project.

How to apply

Submit an Expression of Interest to get started. A few things to keep in mind:

Please read the criteria and eligibility before applying- we are happy to talk this through with you
Your group should be based in South Oxfordshire or Vale of White Horse
Projects must be inclusive and not promote a single faith or political views
If your project has already started, you can still apply if the funding will add value
Grants are usually paid when your project is ready to begin or your application has been successful
You can apply for 100% of your project costs (up to £3,000), but we encourage you to seek other funding too
To discuss your application, contact David.crutchley@oxfordshireyouth.org

SUBMIT EXPRESSION OF INTEREST