Call for Projects: Young People?s Emotional Support Fund (United Kingdom)

The Young People’s Emotional Support Fund provides grants of up to £5,000 to voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in Staffordshire to deliver projects that improve the emotional health and wellbeing of young people. The programme supports initiatives for young people aged 11–19, or up to 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), helping prevent the escalation of emotional health challenges and build resilience.

What is the Young People’s Emotional Support Fund?

The Young People’s Emotional Support Fund is a grant programme that strengthens emotional health and wellbeing support for young people across Staffordshire through community-led initiatives.

The fund provides financial assistance to eligible voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that can design and deliver inclusive, accessible, and innovative projects focused on improving young people’s emotional wellbeing.

In addition to supporting young people, the programme aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability and capacity of the local VCSE sector so organisations can continue responding to growing mental and emotional wellbeing needs.

Programme Objectives

The fund supports projects that help young people develop positive emotional wellbeing while preventing more serious mental health needs from developing.

Key objectives include:

• Maintaining and improving emotional health and wellbeing.
• Preventing the escalation of emotional health needs.
• Building resilience and emotional coping skills.
• Increasing self-worth and self-confidence.
• Encouraging healthy and positive relationships.
• Promoting self-care and healthy lifestyles.
• Improving young people’s knowledge of emotional wellbeing.
• Building confidence to seek help when needed.
• Supporting self-help strategies and early intervention.
• Improving equitable access to emotional wellbeing support.
• Delivering activities aligned with the “Getting Advice” and “Getting Help” areas of the iThrive Framework.

What is the iThrive Framework?

The iThrive Framework is a person-centred approach to supporting children and young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Within this fund, projects should mainly support the early intervention stages of the framework, including:

Getting Advice

Activities that provide:

• Information
• Guidance
• Early emotional support
• Self-help resources
• Signposting to appropriate services

Getting Help

Activities that provide:

• Targeted emotional wellbeing support
• Practical interventions
• Group programmes
• Individual support before emotional difficulties become more severe

The emphasis is on early support that prevents problems from escalating into more complex mental health needs.

Grant Amount

Successful organisations can apply for:

• Up to £5,000 per project.

Funding should support projects that directly benefit eligible young people in Staffordshire.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include established Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations.

This includes:

• Constituted voluntary organisations.
• Community groups.
• Registered charities.
• Social enterprises.

Applicants must:

• Be established for more than 12 months.
• Deliver projects benefiting young people in eligible Staffordshire districts.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage and deliver funded activities effectively.

Youth organisations are encouraged to apply, but wider community organisations delivering appropriate emotional wellbeing projects are also eligible.

Eligible Young People

Projects must support:

• Young people aged 11–19 years, or
• Young adults aged up to 25 years with:
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
  • An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Eligible Project Areas

Projects must take place within one or more of the following Staffordshire districts:

• Cannock Chase
• East Staffordshire
• Lichfield
• Newcastle-under-Lyme
• South Staffordshire
• Stafford
• Staffordshire Moorlands
• Tamworth

What Can the Grant Be Used For?

Funding may be used for reasonable project-related expenses, including:

• Proportionate core organisational costs.
• Equipment.
• Small items of equipment.
• Staff or volunteer training.
• Revenue costs.
• Project delivery costs.
• Workshop expenses.
• Community activities.
• Youth engagement events.
• Resources and materials.

All expenditure should clearly contribute to improving emotional health and wellbeing.

What Cannot Be Funded?

The fund will not support:

• Religious projects that promote a particular religion.
• Political campaigning activities.
• Statutory services.
• Retrospective costs.
• Activities or purchases made before funding approval.
• Costs outside the programme objectives.

Applicants should ensure all proposed spending aligns with the published funding guidance.

Who is Not Eligible?

The following organisations cannot apply:

• Local authorities.
• Parish councils.
• Town councils.
• Schools.
• Statutory organisations.
• Private businesses.
• National organisations without a local Staffordshire presence.
• Organisations established for less than one year.

How to Apply

Eligible organisations should prepare a clear project proposal demonstrating how their activities will improve emotional wellbeing for young people.

Application Steps

1. Confirm your organisation meets the eligibility requirements.
2. Design a project focused on improving emotional health and wellbeing.
3. Identify how the project aligns with the programme objectives and the iThrive Framework.
4. Prepare a realistic project budget of up to £5,000.
5. Explain how the project will reach eligible young people.
6. Demonstrate organisational capacity to deliver and manage the project.
7. Submit the completed application before the published deadline.

Monitoring and Reporting Requirements

Successful organisations will be expected to meet several grant management requirements.

These include:

• Submitting an end-of-grant report.
• Retaining financial records and evidence of expenditure.
• Participating in monitoring throughout project delivery.
• Cooperating with project visits where required.
• Demonstrating outcomes achieved for young people.

These requirements help ensure accountability and measure the programme’s impact.

Why This Fund Matters

Emotional wellbeing plays a vital role in young people’s education, relationships, confidence, and future opportunities.

By investing in community-led organisations, the fund helps:

• Increase access to early emotional support.
• Reduce the risk of more serious mental health challenges.
• Strengthen community resilience.
• Improve inclusion for vulnerable young people.
• Support young people with SEND.
• Build stronger local support networks.
• Enhance the capacity of Staffordshire’s VCSE sector.

Early intervention can significantly improve long-term wellbeing outcomes while reducing pressure on specialist mental health services.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying before the organisation has been established for 12 months.
• Proposing projects outside eligible Staffordshire districts.
• Including ineligible costs such as retrospective spending.
• Failing to demonstrate emotional wellbeing outcomes.
• Submitting incomplete budgets.
• Not explaining how young people will benefit.
• Ignoring monitoring and reporting obligations.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve your chances of success:

• Clearly identify the emotional wellbeing need your project addresses.
• Show how activities align with the programme objectives and iThrive Framework.
• Demonstrate experience working with young people.
• Include measurable outcomes and expected impact.
• Prepare a realistic and transparent budget.
• Explain how your project will be inclusive and accessible.
• Highlight partnerships with local organisations where relevant.
• Show how your project supports long-term community wellbeing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for the Young People’s Emotional Support Fund?

Constituted voluntary and community groups, registered charities, and social enterprises established for more than 12 months are eligible to apply.

How much funding is available?

Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000.

Who should benefit from funded projects?

Projects must support young people aged 11–19, or up to 25 years for those with SEND or an EHCP.

What types of activities can be funded?

Funding can support emotional wellbeing programmes, workshops, equipment, training, community activities, project delivery costs, and proportionate core organisational costs.

Which areas are eligible?

Projects must benefit young people in Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands, or Tamworth.

What activities are not eligible for funding?

The fund does not support religious promotion, political campaigning, statutory services, retrospective costs, or purchases made before funding approval.

What reporting is required after receiving a grant?

Grant recipients must submit an end-of-project report, retain evidence of expenditure, participate in monitoring activities, and may receive project monitoring visits.

Conclusion

The Young People’s Emotional Support Fund offers valuable funding of up to £5,000 for VCSE organisations delivering early intervention and emotional wellbeing projects across Staffordshire. By supporting innovative, inclusive, and community-based initiatives, the programme aims to strengthen emotional resilience, improve access to support, and create healthier futures for young people while building the long-term capacity of the local voluntary and community sector.