FAQS AND USEFUL RESOURCES

YIF is a commitment to young people to transform and level up the out-of-school youth sector. It will provide truly innovative youth facilities in levelling up priority areas, and early-stage/seed resource funding to underpin them, enabling more positive activities that deliver improved outcomes for young people.

This investment will support the out of school youth sector, providing up to 300 youth facilities – which could include small community youth spaces, youth centres of different sizes, and activity centres – in some of the less advantaged areas of England. You may also apply for some revenue funding as part of your application, to support you as you deliver the capital project, and to support the expansion of positive activities for young people.

YIF has been very popular and heavily oversubscribed, and we have funded some fantastic projects which will support thousands of young people to have improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work.

Given the remaining life of the grant programme and the deadline for spending the funds and completing projects, the YIF will soon only accept bids that are seeking to deliver less complex, smaller projects. All projects must be fully completed by 31 March 2025.

We will therefore be closing to applications for the main YIF programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June. Make sure you submit your application as soon as possible.

YIF will level up areas where youth need is high and provision is low, creating a level playing field for young people to have equal access to youth services, trusted youth workers, and dedicated youth facilities that deliver positive outcomes.

The eligible areas have been identified and ranked by a combination of youth need and low provision. The UK Government has developed a detailed methodology underpinning the selection of areas. These eligible areas will not change across the life of the fund and all are based in England.

The site that will be built, refurbished, or renovated must be in an eligible area. The location eligibility applies to the site only, not to organisations’ base locations, or the location of young people who may use or benefit from the site.

YIF is funded by the UK Government’s Department for Media, Culture and Sport. The Government’s priorities are to deliver grants for up to 300 facilities that:

• represent positive value for money,
• are environmentally sustainable,
• and enable positive activities for young people aged 11 to 18 (up to 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

in eligible places across England, by 2024/25.

YIF is focused on the delivery of new and renewed youth facilities within a short timescale. The applicant must be able to demonstrate how the new or renewed youth facilities will be able to expand the number of youth activities that are carried out. Grants can be used on the cost for building, renovating or refurbishing youth facilities as well as the associated costs (project management, professional costs, legal fees).

We cannot reimburse costs that have already been spent.

Fixtures and fittings can form part of the overall budget for a capital build, refurbishment or renovation project. However,

• Applications will not be considered for small capital grants solely to cover these items
• Items that can be removed from the building (e.g. furniture, computers, laptops) cannot be included in the capital grant request

This funding cannot be used to purchase or lease land nor can it be used to refinance existing mortgages or loans. It cannot be used to purchase/refurb/renovate any moving vehicles such as buses or boats.

Applications to the main Youth Investment Fund programme

Projects with construction work that is mainly or entirely outdoors will have to evidence that they will offer supported youth activities as per our definition (see FAQ ‘What do you mean by open access youth provision?’).

YIF has been very popular and heavily oversubscribed, and we have funded some fantastic projects which will support thousands of young people to have improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work.  Given the remaining life of the grant programme and the deadline for spending the funds and completing projects, YIF will soon only accept bids that are seeking to deliver less complex, smaller projects. All projects must be be fully completed by 31 March 2025.

We will therefore be closing to applications for the main YIF programme from midnight on Thursday 1st June. Make sure you submit your application as soon as possible.

No.

There is no lower application limit, and we strongly encourage smaller grants.

For small capital grants of between £10k and £150k, we have now opened a YIF Refurbishment Grant programme for refurbishments which do not require planning permission. To find out more about the YIF Refurbishment Grants click here.

The main YIF programme (for grants over £150k, or those under £150k which require planning permission) has been heavily oversubscribed, and we have funded some fantastic projects which will support thousands of young people to have improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work.

Given the remaining life of the grant programme and the deadline for spending the funds and completing projects, YIF will soon only accept bids that are seeking to deliver less complex, smaller projects. All projects must be fully completed by 31 March 2025.

You can still apply to the main YIF grant programme. We are particularly keen to hear from organisations within regions which have not received a YIF grant or have a clear need for additional investment.

We will be closing to applications for the main YIF programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June.

Make sure your application is submitted as quickly as possible.

There is no upper limit, but all applications must now have:

• appropriate planning permissions secured
• ownership/leases secured
• clear plans which outline the build/refurbishment, including build times and build end dates. This will need to be reviewed and approved by professional expertise (for example, quantity surveyors).

As the YIF is primarily a capital fund, we expect no more than 20% of any grant requested to be for revenue funding. However, this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

A capital grant is used to cover the cost of a large asset. For the purposes of a YIF capital grant, this may include, for example:

• large new youth centres, with multiple rooms, including outdoor space and full youth facilities
• medium new youth centres, with one or more rooms/spaces and uses for youth services/activities
• small new modular youth units, using modern methods of construction, or other innovative and efficient construction techniques, consisting of a single main space for smaller youth services/activities
• repurposing of existing facilities, including preserving or reinstating disused or derelict spaces for use as youth centres, where renovation work will expand the capacity or inclusivity of services being offered to young people
• expansion or extension of existing facilities used for youth services/activities, where renovation work will expand the capacity or inclusivity of services being offered to young people.

Repairs, maintenance or cosmetic works that do not expand the capacity or inclusivity of services being offered, or do not prevent a facility from falling into disuse, will not be eligible for capital funding.

Other areas that cannot be funded as part of YIF are:

• The purchase / lease or building of land
• Refinancing existing mortgages or loans
• The purchase of buses or boats
• Upfront costs of a project such as planning permission fees

A revenue grant covers expenditures that are the ongoing operating expenses, which are usually short-term expenses used to run the daily business operations. As part of YIF, revenue funding can only be provided alongside an initial capital grant.

These grants must create, expand or improve local youth services/activities from YIF’s capital-funded facilities, enabling more positive activities that deliver improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work for young people. Revenue grants should be used as early-stage or seed funding for youth activities from new or redeveloped youth facilities, to ensure that facilities drive these positive outcomes for young people, and to help enable youth organisations to develop sustainable funding models.

It is essential to recognise funded activity in the period it occurs and within the allocated annual budget profiles. All projects will need to be completed and no longer reliant on YIF funding beyond 31^st March 2025.

As the YIF is primarily a capital fund, we expect no more than 20% of any grant requested to be for revenue funding. However, this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

When building your grant application, you should consider the below, and be able to demonstrate how much of your revenue grant request is allocated to each:

• Project management costs (if needed)
• Overheads during project
• Expansion (for example to cover hiring & training more youth workers / staff)
• Project delivery costs in year 1 (for innovation / proof of concept rather than ongoing operational costs)

We will fund both but please be aware that a revenue grant will only be provided alongside a capital grant. We will not be able to provide a revenue grant on its own.

As the YIF is primarily a capital fund, we expect no more than 20% of any grant requested to be for revenue funding. However, this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

In construction of your grant application, you should consider the below, and be able to demonstrate how much of your revenue grant request is allocated to each:

• Project management costs (if needed)
• Overheads during project
• Expansion (for example to cover hiring & training more youth workers / staff)
• Project delivery costs in year 1 (for innovation / proof of concept rather than ongoing operational costs)

In making funding decisions, we’ll look to consider if your project can be delivered within the lifetime of the fund and to budget. We’ll look at details including:

• Feasibility of your project – ensuring the project has been planned correctly, ensuring its feasibility and execution to RIBA work plan, appropriate costs, financials timeline, necessary specialist input and that it complies with the fund’s procurement framework
• Feasibility of your organisation – including if you have the cashflow to undertake the project, your project management capability, if you’ve planned for any disruption to business as usual (e.g., if a building is knocked down / is unusable for a period of time / there are additional safety, security and safeguarding needs during project delivery), your forward planning for any overruns, and informed governance from a suitably qualified board
• Environment– ensuring the project is making use of sustainable and resilient supply chains, you’ve considered factors including inflation, materials, workforce availability, your project meets industry standards, contributes to social value, and complies with the fund’s procurement framework

In making funding decisions, we’ll want to know that the lead applicant has the capacity to deliver your build project(s), and the ability to manage them well afterwards. We’ll look at details including:

• Financial – the long-term financial stability of the organisation, including maintenance costs for the building and the activities within it, months’ spending, building running costs, project running costs, and the project’s contribution to the organisation’s business model
• Environmental – the project’s contribution to long-term energy efficiency for the building as well as wider sustainability, including building running costs, and EPC score
• Governance – the organisation’s long-term expertise in the management of the building and the activities within it, including skills for the overview of the project

YIF has a commitment to transform and level up the out of school sector through funding open access youth provision. Characteristics of open access youth provision must include the ability for children and young people to self-refer, or apply to join themselves, with access that does not depend on parent, guardian or agency referrals.

We require applicants to run provision that:

• is genuinely open, welcoming all local young people that look to attend
• is attended by young people that have not been referred
• uses methods of advertising the service/facility that increases awareness amongst all young people

A trusted adult must be present to guide, support and challenge. We are looking to fund leisure, physical, educational, and other activities that have the primary intention of benefitting young people’s social welfare, developing their skills for life and work and supporting a healthy and happy transition to adulthood.

Activities funded by YIF must be free of charge.

Accommodation for young people or respite care cannot be supported in the fund.

YIF opened on 1^st August 2022. The Expression of Interest form for applications is currently open, but will close very soon.

Please ensure you get your application in as soon as possible as we will be closing applications for the main YIF programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June.

We have also opened a small Refurbishment Grant Programme for applications under £150,000 which do not require planning permission. The nexr grant window to make an application to the Refurbishment Grant Programme. The application form will only be available to view and complete during these dates.

• 29 May to midnight 09 June 2023

You can still read about the criteria and process for making a Refurbishment Grant, including viewing the application questions so you can prepare in advance.

YIF, launched in August 2022, will come to an end on 31 March 2025. Every capital project funded through the programme must be completed by this date and all monies spent.

We will be closing applications for the main Youth Investment Fund programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June.

Any application to the main YIF programme must be for completion by 31st March 2025 and plans must be realistic to meet this date.  This includes:

• Having secured appropriate planning permissions
• Having secured suitable ownership/leases
• Providing clear plans which outline the build/refurbishment, including build times and build end dates. This will need to be reviewed and approved by professional experts (e.g. quantity surveyors). Social Investment Business is working with construction partners to determine feasibility and we will need to decline applications if we do not have confidence in the construction plans and timescales.

Make sure you apply as soon as possible.

The lead organisation and grant holder must be one of the following legal structures:

• A local authority, including parish and town councils
• A registered charity
• An exempt charity
• Uniformed organisations (such as Scouts and Girlguides)
• Either form of Community Interest Company (Company limited by Guarantee & Company Limited by Shares)
• Company limited Guarantee with a social mission (dependent on further assessment)

All organisations must be registered with the appropriate regulator (such as Companies House or the Charity Commission) or be a uniformed organisation (Scouts or Girlguides).

Schools, colleges, hospitals  or multi academy trusts are not eligible for this fund. There is no minimum number of years for an organisation to be established to apply for this fund.

The Youth Investment Fund, launched in August 2022, will come to an end on 31 March 2025. Every capital project funded through the programme must be completed by this date and all monies spent.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as we are closing to applications for the main Youth Investment Fund programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June.

Any application to the main Youth Investment Fund programme must be for completion by 31st March 2025 and plans must be realistic to meet this date.  This includes:

• Having secured appropriate planning permissions
• Having secured suitable ownership/leases
• Providing clear plans which outline the build/refurbishment, including build times and build end dates. This will need to be ratified by professional expertise (for example, quantity surveyors). Social Investment Business is working with construction partners to determine feasibility and we will need to decline applications if we do not have confidence in the construction plans and timescales.

We will prioritise those applications that we are assured will be completed. Please make sure your application is submitted as quickly as possible.

Step 1) Expression of Interest – If you meet the above eligibility criteria and your project will operate in a selected eligible area, submit your expression of interest and a member of our team will be in touch. Please make sure your application is submitted as quickly as possible, as we are closing to applications for the main Youth Investment Fund programme from midnight on Thursday 1^st June.

Step 2) Relationship Manager – if your expression of interest is taken forward by our team, you’ll be assigned a relationship manager who will work with you to gather more information and submit a report for the assessment panel. Depending on the stage of development your project is at, this could take one to six months.

Step 3) Assessment Panel – The panel will consider the quality of your youth service offer and engagement with young people in your bid, the resilience of the lead applicant and project plans, as well as the viability of the project (please see FAQs for more information on what we’re looking for at this stage).

Step 4) Grant Committee – The committee are responsible for approving applications as well as making recommendations for future grant rounds and reviewing awarded grants against the fund’s objectives on a quarterly basis (please see FAQs for more information on what we’re looking for at this stage).

For any application under £150k, we will very shortly be opening a dedicated application window however you can register your interest at yif@sibgroup.org.uk

Yes.  Applications should have a lead organisation who will be accountable for the grant funding and act as the main point of contact during the application process.

For some applications the lead organisation will also be involved in delivering youth services. For other applications a separate organisation will lead youth services.

Yes.

Yes. The location eligibility applies to the site only, not to organisations’ base locations, or the location of young people who may use or benefit from the site.

Yes.

Currently, there is no minimum for the proportion of youth work conducted in the building so this is not in the YIF eligibility criteria. The use and purpose of the building will  be reviewed in assessment on a case by case basis, and something weighed up in decision-making – alongside other considerations including resilience and viability factors.

In short, this is not a eligibility criterion but will be considered in decision-making.

You will need to own or have a secure lease on the site or building in order for us to be able to assess your application.

If you do not own or have a sufficient lease in place or you do not have planning permissions for builds or renovations, we will not be able to progress your application.

Funds must have a lasting impact and benefit for youth delivery.  Buildings built, renovated or refurbished through YIF must be owned by a suitable organisation (Local authority or non-profit organisation).

We would expect leases to be long-term to reflect the scale of grant that is being awarded.  Typically for YIF grants, we would look for a minimum lease of 25 years. However, this is not a strict rule and we will be taking a proportional approach. For example, a shorter lease may be acceptable for smaller grants but organisation receiving a grant over 8 million may need to have a longer lease.

In short, this is not a eligibility criterion but will be considered in decision-making.

You have until Midnight on 1st June 2023 to submit an Expression of Interest.  After this date you will no longer be able to apply to the main YIF fund.

We are now prioritising those applications that are close to readiness to deliver and so we would recommend you submit your EoI when you have made sufficient progress in planning your project. If you do not own or have a sufficient lease in place or you do not have planning permissions for builds or renovations, we will not be able to progress your application (please contact us if you only require planning permission for very minor elements such as replacement windows).

All builds must be completed and all funds spent by 31^st March 2025. The feasibility of your plans being complete within timescales is a key consideration in us taking forward your application. Grants will only be awarded when the proposal meets the right quality level in terms of quality youth work, organisational resilience and a viable capital project.

By the time applications go to Grants Committee you must ensure you have the necessary planning and leases in place so you will be ready to start your build project. Please see our FAQs question ‘What are the application deadlines?’ for the full list of what this entails.

You can register to be kept up-to-date with YIF news (including funding rounds, amounts awarded and other updates) here https://www.sibgroup.org.uk/contact/

You cannot apply for costs that have already been incurred.  You would need to show how YIF funding would meet the fund criteria, in particular showing how funding would secure additional youth provision over the build project that has already started.

If your expression of interest is taken forward by our team, you’ll be assigned a relationship manager who will work with you to gather more information and submit a report for the assessment panel. Depending on the stage of development your project is at, this could take one to six months.

If an organisation’s core purpose is the promotion of recreational sport, competitive or elite sport then it is beyond the scope of the fund. This does not mean that all organisations that use sports as part of their offering to young people are ineligible. Instead, these applications need to demonstrate the presence of a trusted adult, that is using sports as a vehicle/tool to deliver youth activities & outcomes, with a trusted adult to guide, mentor and challenge.

If you have questions about the fund please get in touch at yif@sibgroup.org.uk

A site that solely delivers education or alternative education to young people, without a significant out-of-school youth work offering, is beyond the scope of the fund.

Arts Council – Building excellence in the cultural sector

Arts Council – Building Access: A good practice guide for arts and cultural organisations

Heritage Lottery Fund – Good Practice Guidance

• Building maintenance guide
• Environmental sustainability guidance 
• Local economy guidance
• Organisational resilience guidance
• Writing a brief for the procurement of goods and services

National Lottery Community Fund – Community Buildings Energy and Sustainability Guide

Kings College London – Building understanding of the value of youth work 

National Youth Agency guidance on high quality youth work

Sport England – Environmental sustainability and sport facilities

Sport England – Design and Cost Guidance  

Sport England – Village and Community Halls

Sports England –  Accessible Sport Facilities