The David Dockray West End Young People’s Fund provides funding to support projects and individuals helping children and young people in the West End of Newcastle.
The fund focuses on improving opportunities, tackling disadvantage and supporting young people to reach their potential within one of the city’s priority areas.
About the Fund
Delivered by the Community Foundation, this fund supports work that benefits children and young people living in the West End of Newcastle.
The programme aims to improve life chances, enrich local communities and support young people facing barriers due to deprivation or limited access to opportunities.
In addition to organisations, the fund is unusual in that it also supports individual young people aged 16–25 who need financial support to progress their ambitions.
How Much Funding Is Available
- Organisations: £500 to £15,000 per year
- In some cases, funding may be awarded for up to 2 years
- Individuals: £500 to £2,500 per year (up to 3 years)
This flexible structure allows both grassroots organisations and individuals to access support.
What the Fund Supports
The fund supports projects and activities that:
- Benefit children and young people in the West End of Newcastle
- Address disadvantage or deprivation
- Improve opportunities, wellbeing and life chances
- Enrich local communities and quality of life
For individuals, funding can support progression into education, training or career opportunities where financial barriers exist.
Geographic Focus
Funding is targeted at a specific area of West Newcastle, including communities such as:
- Arthur’s Hill
- Benwell and Elswick
- Surrounding West End neighbourhoods
Organisations based outside the area may still apply if they can clearly demonstrate strong impact within the priority area.
Who Is Eligible
The fund is open to:
- Charities and community organisations
- Voluntary groups delivering youth-focused activities
- Individual young people aged 16–25 living in the priority area
Projects must clearly benefit children and young people in the defined West End of Newcastle.
What the Fund Will Not Support
The fund will not support:
- Projects that do not primarily benefit young people in the target area
- Work that does not address disadvantage
- Applications that do not demonstrate clear community benefit
Individual applications must also clearly show how the funding will support realistic and achievable goals.
Application Timeline
- Deadline: 8 June 2026
- Decisions made following panel meetings in June and November
All applicants will be notified of the outcome after review.
What Makes This Fund Different
This fund stands out because:
- It supports both organisations and individuals
- Strong place-based focus on a specific community
- Flexible funding that can support progression opportunities
- Clear focus on tackling disadvantage and improving life chances
It provides a valuable route for grassroots organisations and young people to access funding in a targeted local area.
