Pears Foundation has announced that it is giving a further £10m to the charity UK Youth to hand out to youth organisations to improve access to support for young people across the UK.

This brings its total investment in the charity's work to support youth work to £19m.

The further investment will underpin a UK Youth Fund, to provide unrestricted, multi-year grants from UK Youth to youth organisations.

Applications are now open for the fund, which is for youth organisations with an annual turnover of less than £500,000.

It aims to support grantees in strategic and organisational development and increasing their capability and organisational resilience.

The Fund’s focus will be on helping youth organisations “to meet core costs, strengthen staff resilience and build the capacity needed to grow sustainably”.

“Having had the great privilege of visiting many of the youth clubs we have funded over the years, I’m always struck by the people behind them – the staff and volunteers who build deep, trusted relationships with young people and create spaces where they feel supported and safe,” said Pears Foundation executive chair Trevor Pears.

“This funding is about backing them. It’s about placing trust in their expertise and judgment. It’s about giving them the flexibility and confidence to keep doing what they do best, while also recognising the immense value of their work and the difference they make in communities every day.”

He added: “We’re very proud to be continuing our partnership with UK Youth, helping to ensure that hundreds more youth organisations across the country have the support they need to keep their doors open and reach the young people who can benefit most.”

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