CFAs: Addressing Harmful Attitudes and Behaviours Among Young People (UK)

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is inviting applications for projects that help young people aged 10–18 address harmful attitudes, behaviours, gender norms, and relationship-related concerns through early targeted support in education settings. The funding supports evidence-informed interventions, co-design processes, delivery, and independent evaluation to prevent violence against women and girls and promote healthy, respectful relationships.

Overview of the Youth Endowment Fund Opportunity

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) funding opportunity supports organisations developing or improving interventions that address harmful attitudes and behaviours related to:

Gender norms.
Relationships.
Respect and equality.
Violence against women and girls.
Problematic behaviours among young people.

The programme focuses on early intervention and prevention, helping educational settings identify and respond to concerns before behaviours escalate into serious harm requiring statutory services.

Purpose of the Funding

The funding aims to strengthen support systems for children and young people by:

Promoting healthy and respectful relationships.
Preventing harmful behaviours linked to gender inequality.
Supporting early identification of concerning attitudes and actions.
Improving Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE).
Building the capacity of schools and educational settings.
Testing and evaluating effective prevention approaches.

The programme is part of YEF’s wider work on research, evaluation, and evidence-based solutions to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

Funding Amount and Support

Successful applicants can receive:

Up to £20,000 for a 4-month co-design process.
Additional support may be available for scaling up through extended co-design stages.

Funding can support:

Intervention development.
Co-design activities.
Programme refinement.
Delivery preparation.
Independent evaluation activities.

Funded projects will receive support for both implementation and assessment of effectiveness.

Key Focus Areas

Healthy and Respectful Relationships

Projects should help young people develop:

Respectful relationship skills.
Understanding of equality.
Positive attitudes towards others.
Awareness of harmful behaviours.

Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls

Interventions should contribute to reducing:

Harmful gender stereotypes.
Controlling behaviours.
Sexist attitudes.
Relationship-based harm.

Early Identification and Targeted Support

The programme focuses on young people who are beginning to show:

Inappropriate attitudes.
Harmful beliefs.
Problematic behaviours.
Relationship-related concerns.

The aim is to provide support before behaviours become more serious and require intervention from:

Children’s social care.
Police services.
Youth justice systems.

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

Projects may support educational settings by improving:

RSHE delivery.
Teacher confidence.
School responses to sensitive topics.
Resources for young people.

Who Is Eligible?

Applications are open to organisations delivering targeted interventions for children and young people.

Eligible applicants include:

Registered charities.
Companies.
Statutory bodies.
Community Interest Companies (CICs).

Applicants must:

Be based in England.
Deliver projects within educational settings or closely linked partner environments.
Support young people aged 10–18 years.
Support young people up to 19 years in SEND settings.

Eligible Project Requirements

Projects should:

Focus on secondary prevention.
Work directly with young people showing early signs of harmful attitudes or behaviours.
Operate mainly in educational settings.
Improve schools’ ability to identify and respond to concerns.
Use evidence-informed approaches.
Include independent evaluation.

What Types of Activities Can Be Supported?

Eligible activities may include:

Targeted Youth Interventions

Projects may provide:

One-to-one support.
Group-based interventions.
Relationship education.
Behaviour change programmes.
Discussions around gender norms and equality.

School and Staff Support

Projects may include:

Teacher training.
Staff guidance.
Identification tools.
School response frameworks.
Safeguarding approaches.

Community and Partnership Delivery

Delivery may take place outside schools when:

There is a clear connection with an educational setting.
Activities support school-based prevention efforts.

Evidence Requirements

Applicants must show that their interventions are based on:

Existing research.
Evidence-based practice.
Relevant theories.
Previous successful approaches.

The fund does not support completely new interventions created from the beginning.

However, funding may support:

Improving existing programmes.
Adapting proven approaches.
Testing promising interventions.

Independent Evaluation Requirement

Successful organisations must work with an independent evaluator.

Evaluation will cover:

Co-design process.
Programme delivery.
Effectiveness.
Outcomes for young people.

Applicants should demonstrate readiness to participate in evaluation activities.

How to Apply

Step 1: Develop an Eligible Intervention

Applicants should define:

The problem being addressed.
The target group.
The intervention approach.
Expected outcomes.

Step 2: Demonstrate Evidence and Experience

Applicants should provide information about:

Previous experience delivering similar programmes.
Evidence supporting the approach.
Understanding of young people’s needs.
Partnerships with educational settings.

Step 3: Prepare Evaluation Plans

Applicants should explain:

How the project will be tested.
How outcomes will be measured.
How they will work with an independent evaluator.

Step 4: Submit Application

Applications should include:

Organisation details.
Project description.
Target beneficiaries.
Delivery plan.
Evidence base.
Evaluation readiness.
Partnership information.

Why It Matters

Young people’s attitudes and behaviours around relationships and gender can influence future social outcomes.

Early intervention can help:

Prevent harmful behaviours.
Promote equality and respect.
Improve young people’s understanding of healthy relationships.
Strengthen school safeguarding systems.
Reduce risks linked to violence against women and girls.

Supporting young people before harmful behaviours escalate can create safer educational environments and healthier communities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Proposing completely new interventions without evidence.
Failing to explain how young people will benefit.
Not involving educational settings.
Ignoring evaluation requirements.
Describing general awareness activities without targeted support.
Lacking evidence of organisational capacity.

Tips for a Strong Application

Successful applications should:

Clearly identify the behaviour or attitudes being addressed.
Explain why early intervention is needed.
Show how schools will be involved.
Demonstrate safeguarding knowledge.
Provide measurable outcomes.
Highlight experience working with young people.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the Youth Endowment Fund supporting?

The fund supports interventions that address harmful attitudes and behaviours among young people and promote healthy, respectful relationships.

2. Who can apply for this funding?

Registered charities, companies, statutory bodies, and Community Interest Companies delivering eligible projects in England can apply.

3. What age group should projects support?

Projects should support children and young people aged 10–18, or up to 19 in SEND settings.

4. What is the maximum funding available?

Applicants can receive up to £20,000 for a 4-month co-design process, with opportunities for further scaling support.

5. Does YEF fund completely new interventions?

No. The fund prioritises evidence-informed interventions and supports refinement, adaptation, or testing of promising approaches.

6. Must projects take place in schools?

Projects should primarily operate in educational settings. Community delivery may be accepted if there is a strong connection with education providers.

7. Is evaluation required?

Yes. Successful applicants must work with an independent evaluator throughout the co-design, delivery, and evaluation stages.

Conclusion

The Youth Endowment Fund Grant provides an opportunity for organisations to develop and strengthen evidence-based interventions that help young people build healthier relationships and challenge harmful attitudes. By supporting early targeted action, educational settings can play a key role in preventing violence against women and girls and creating safer environments for children and young people.