Charity partner sought by DCMS to deliver £368m in youth sector funding

The government has launched a search for a charity partner to deliver £368m in investment in the youth sector.

Charities are being invited by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to apply to deliver the second phase of the Youth Investment Fund over the next three years.

This is worth up to £368m and includes £288m of capital finding and £80m in resource funding.

It is hoped the money will support up to 300 youth facilities.

The deadline for applications to deliver this phase of funding as intermediatory grant maker is 12pm, 29 March.

The successful charity partner to is expected to start work this summer “with the exact dates to be determined in due course”, according to DCMS documents.

An application portal for charities to apply for funding through this phase will launch during the summer and applications will be considered between September and October, when awards will be made, and the delivery of projects can begin.

The projects will be evaluated by summer 2025.

“The Youth Investment Fund (YIF)’s objective is to create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services, in order to drive positive outcomes for young people, including improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work,” said the DCMS.

“It will provide youth organisations with truly innovative spaces and allow them to deliver more and better activities to underpin these facilities, reaching more young people.”

The first phase of the Fund, worth £10m in investment for capital projects and small redevelopments of youth clubs and other services, was delivered by BBC Children in Need.

This closed early “due to significant demand” according to the charity.