On August 5th 2025, the government announced a new £88 million investment in youth clubs and extracurricular activities across England. The aim? To help young people “reconnect with their communities”, build confidence, and develop life skills. “Skills no algorithm can teach”, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
It’s part of a wider agenda to “rebuild the infrastructure of everyday life” and marks a shift toward supporting holistic, community-based youth development. But while the headline is positive, questions remain:
- Who will actually deliver these programmes?
- Will small, grassroots groups be able to access the funding?
- What support is available to help overstretched teams apply?
We break down what this announcement means for charities, CICs, and community organisations, and how Fundin can help you turn opportunity into action.
🧭 The bigger picture. Rebuilding youth support through civil society
The £88 million pledge isn’t a one-off. It follows the launch of the Better Futures Fund, a £500 million initiative designed to support up to 200,000 children and families through charities, philanthropists, social investors, and community partners. Together, these funds signal that the government sees civil society as central to long-term youth wellbeing.
The newly announced youth funding will support:
- School-based extracurriculars like debating, drama, sport, and volunteering
- Community youth clubs that offer safe, structured spaces for young people
- Local partnerships between schools, councils, charities, and grassroots groups
The government has been clear: the focus is on partnerships, place-based delivery, and early intervention. That opens doors, but also introduces complexity. Navigating funding applications, partnerships, and project planning requires time, clarity, and capacity. For many small-to-medium charities, that’s the sticking point.
⚠️ The risk. Good intentions, missed access
Let’s be honest: while funding is critical, money doesn’t always reach the people best placed to use it. Many youth groups and mission-driven organisations struggle with:
- Capacity: Limited time or staff to research, plan, and apply for grants.
- Confidence: Feeling unsure about how to ‘sell’ their impact to funders.
- Visibility: Not knowing when new funds open or what criteria they need to meet.
- Resource inequality: Larger organisations often have bid writers on staff. Smaller ones don’t.
This means the organisations with the deepest roots in their communities often miss out, despite being exactly who these funds are meant to support.
💡 How Fundin helps you get ready (and get funded)
At Fundin, we work with hundreds of purpose-driven organisations to help them win funding without burning out. Our AI-powered platform is designed to take the stress out of applying for grants, so you can focus on delivering impact.
Here’s how we can help you respond to this opportunity:
1. Match with relevant funds, fast
We monitor hundreds of funding sources in real time and match you to opportunities based on your mission, focus areas, and location, including government programmes like this one.
2. Simplify and strengthen your bid writing
Our AI bid-writing tool gives you a head start on applications. It helps structure answers, repurpose successful content, and reduce blank-page syndrome.
3. Build a strategic funding pipeline
Use our Projects feature to plan ahead, organise deadlines, and track your application pipeline. Whether you’re going after one youth-focused grant or ten, Fundin gives you clarity and control.
4. Get human support, when you need it
Our team of experienced fundraisers is on hand to offer expert reviews and advice, especially useful when you’re applying to competitive funds or developing a new project.
✅ Who should be preparing now?
The funding will start rolling out in 2026, but the time to act is now. If you’re an organisation working in any of these spaces, this fund is likely relevant to you:
- Youth clubs or after-school programmes
- Mental health or wellbeing services for young people
- Sport, arts, or cultural education
- Community development projects
- Volunteering and peer support networks
- Programmes targeting loneliness, isolation, or early intervention
Even if you’ve never applied for government funding before, this could be your opportunity to get a foot in the door, and Fundin can help you every step of the way.
🔁 A system shift, not just a grant
This isn’t just another pot of money. It’s part of a broader shift in how government sees the role of community organisations. Civil society isn’t an add-on, it’s an essential partner in rebuilding the systems young people rely on.
At Fundin, we believe the organisations best placed to drive change are often the ones with the least access to traditional fundraising support. That’s what we’re here to change.
👣 Next steps
If you’re interested in applying for youth funding but not sure where to start, here’s what to do:
- Sign up to Fundin to start matching with relevant funds
- Build out your first “Project” to start planning your funding strategy
- Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on government opportunities
- Follow us on social media to stay inspired by stories from other charities doing similar work
You’ve got the impact. We’ll help you secure the funding.
