Young Start has supported projects run for and by children and young people across Scotland since 2012, awarding over £70 million of Dormant Assets funding. This relaunch marks a new chapter for the programme, following a two-year co-design project centring the voices of children and young people.

A new funding offer – what’s changed

The refreshed Young Start programme introduces new outcomes, clearer language, and a new development funding route. There are now two ways to apply:

· Young Start – Main Grants Grants of £20,001 to £150,000 for up to three years

· Young Start – Small Grants Grants of £300 to £20,000 for up to one year

Young Start – Main Grants

This is for organisations who are already including children and young people aged 8 to 24 in their project, or organisation. The children and young people should be able to:

· choose when and how they’re involved

· influence and make decisions about the organisation, its activities or services

To apply projects must meet at least one of these outcomes. It must help children and young people:

· build positive relationships that improve their wellbeing

· learn more about themselves or other people

· take action on issues that matter to them

· learn skills that help them feel more confident for the future

Young Start – Small Grants

Young Start now has a new development programme called Young Start: Small Grants. This is for organisations who are not yet meaningfully involving children and young people in their work, but who would like to. This funding is for organisations in Scotland that:

· support children and young people aged 8 to 24

· want to learn how to involve them so they can:

      – influence decisions about their organisation, its activities, or services

      – choose when and how they’re involved

The work we fund must meet these two outcomes:

· involve children and young people in ways that benefit them

· improve how your organisation works with children and young people