£30 Million to Fund Late-Night Youth Clubs in Every London Borough — The Mayor’s Investment in Youth Clubs
The Mayor of London has opened applications for his investment in youth clubs, with over £30 million available to deliver at least one late-night youth club in every London borough. It’s the biggest single investment in youth clubs the capital has ever seen, and full applications close at noon on 14 September 2026.
About the Fund
Youth clubs and youth workers play a vital role in a young person’s life, offering a safe space to meet friends, learn new skills and spend time with trusted adults. The Mayor’s investment in youth clubs is designed to keep clubs open later and longer — on weekday evenings, at weekends, and through school holidays — giving young Londoners somewhere to go when they need it most. It builds on the Mayor’s wider commitment to ensuring every young person feels safe, supported and connected to their community.
How Much Funding Is Available
More than £30 million is available in total, with one grant awarded to a lead organisation in each of London’s 32 boroughs. Funding will be available from October 2026, supporting delivery for a minimum of two years and up to three years.
What the Fund Supports
Grants will help youth clubs:
- Stay open later into the evenings on weekdays and weekends, and during school holidays
- Offer more sports, creative activities and gaming
- Provide mentoring and support from trusted adults
- Help young people build skills for their future
- Give young people a safe, reliable place to go
Who Is Eligible
Applicants must be a voluntary or community sector organisation with a track record of delivering meaningful, impactful youth work, along with appropriate safeguarding policies and insurance in place. Only one lead organisation will be funded per London borough, though partnership delivery may be possible under that lead applicant.
The Application Process
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a pre-application webinar before applying — the final session runs on Thursday 23 July, 3:00–4:30pm, and covers who can apply and how to put together a strong application. Applicants should then read the full funding guidance before submitting, as it sets out the submission requirements in detail. Applications are submitted through the GLA’s OPS system, which requires an account to be set up in advance. Questions can be sent to the Young Londoners team at YoungLondoners@london.gov.uk.
Funding Timeline
- Pre-application webinar: Thursday 23 July 2026, 3:00–4:30pm
- Application deadline: Monday 14 September 2026, 12:00 noon
- Decisions announced: week commencing 19 October 2026
- Programme delivery: from October 2026, for a minimum of two and up to three years (through September 2029)
