Deadline: 03-Jul-2026
The Innovation Fund Grant supports youth work organisations on the island of Ireland to develop innovative projects that introduce or strengthen global youth work approaches. The fund helps youth services explore local-global connections and address justice issues such as poverty, gender equality, education, hunger, peace and security, clean water, clean energy, decent work, climate action and sustainable cities.
Successful applicants can receive funding of up to €5,000, along with free training support from the Youth 2030 training team. Projects must be implemented between 15 July and 30 September 2026 and should be young person-centred, creative and connected to global justice themes.
Grant Overview
The Innovation Fund Grant provides support for youth work organisations to develop projects that connect local youth work with global justice issues.
The fund recognises the creativity and innovation already present in youth work practice.
It is designed for youth services that are beginning to explore global youth work, as well as organisations that want to deepen their existing global youth work approach.
Funding Available
Successful applicants can receive funding of up to €5,000.
In addition to grant funding, selected organisations will receive free training support from the Youth 2030 training team.
This support is intended to help organisations design and deliver strong, young person-centred projects linked to global youth work.
Project Implementation Period
Funded projects must be implemented between:
15 July and 30 September 2026
Applicants should ensure that their proposed activities can be planned, delivered and completed within this timeframe.
Main Objective
The main objective of the Innovation Fund Grant is to support youth work organisations in developing innovative global youth work projects.
The fund aims to:
- Support young person-centred projects
- Introduce global youth work approaches
- Strengthen existing youth work practice
- Explore justice issues in a local-global context
- Build youth worker skills and confidence
- Connect youth services with Sustainable Development Goal themes
- Encourage creative and innovative youth participation
- Support learning, reflection and action among young people
Key Focus Areas
The fund supports projects that explore justice issues and global themes.
Key focus areas include:
- Poverty
- Gender equality
- Education
- Hunger
- Peace and security
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable and clean energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Climate action
- Sustainable cities
- Local-global connections
- Global youth work
- Youth participation
- Social justice
What Is Global Youth Work?
Global youth work helps young people understand how local issues are connected to global systems, challenges and responsibilities.
It encourages young people to explore justice, equality, sustainability and human rights from both local and international perspectives.
Global youth work can support young people to think critically, take action and understand their role in creating a fairer and more sustainable world.
What the Grant Supports
The Innovation Fund Grant supports youth work projects that develop or strengthen global youth work approaches.
Funded activities may include:
- Training programmes for youth workers
- Skills development for youth services
- Youth-led learning activities
- Projects exploring Sustainable Development Goal themes
- Local-global justice projects
- Creative activities linked to global issues
- Youth engagement on climate action
- Activities connecting existing youth work with global themes
- Programmes that help young people explore global citizenship
- Projects that strengthen youth participation and awareness
Eligible Applicants
Applications are open only to youth services and organisations based on the island of Ireland.
Eligible applicants may include youth organisations and youth services that are:
- Based in Ireland or Northern Ireland
- Working directly with young people
- Interested in global youth work
- Seeking to introduce or strengthen global justice themes
- Able to participate in required training and network activities
- Able to deliver the project within the required timeframe
Suitable Organisations
The fund is suitable for organisations that are:
- New to global youth work
- Beginning to explore local-global connections
- Already using global youth work approaches
- Seeking to deepen their practice
- Interested in Sustainable Development Goal themes
- Working with young people on justice, equality or sustainability issues
- Looking to build staff or volunteer capacity in global youth work
Required Participation
Successful applicants must take part in key learning and networking activities.
Organisations are required to:
- Participate in Youth 2030 training
- Join the Global Youth Work Learner’s Network approximately every six weeks
- Attend at least one One World Week 2026 event
These requirements help organisations build knowledge, share learning and strengthen project quality.
Environmental Responsibility
Organisations are encouraged to use recycled materials wherever possible for arts-based activities.
This supports environmentally responsible project delivery and aligns with wider sustainability and climate action themes.
Applicants should consider how their project materials, activities and methods can reduce waste and promote sustainable practice.
What the Grant Does Not Support
The grant does not support the purchase of merchandise materials.
Ineligible items include:
- T-shirts
- Baseball caps
- Similar promotional merchandise
Applicants should focus budgets on project activities, training, learning, participation and meaningful youth engagement.
Why This Grant Matters
Young people are deeply affected by global challenges such as climate change, inequality, poverty and conflict.
Youth work can help young people understand these issues, connect them to local experiences and take informed action.
The Innovation Fund Grant matters because it supports youth organisations to create practical, creative and inclusive projects that help young people engage with global justice in meaningful ways.
It also strengthens the capacity of youth workers and youth services to embed global youth work into everyday practice.
Expected Results
Funded projects may contribute to:
- Increased youth awareness of global justice issues
- Stronger local-global connections in youth work
- Improved skills among youth workers
- Greater youth participation in global themes
- More creative approaches to learning and action
- Stronger organisational capacity in global youth work
- Better understanding of Sustainable Development Goal themes
- Increased engagement with One World Week 2026
- More innovative youth-led activities
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the project idea, target young people, global theme, activities and expected outcomes.
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Applicants should confirm that they are a youth service or organisation based on the island of Ireland.
They should also ensure they can complete the project between 15 July and 30 September 2026.
Step 2: Choose a Global Justice Theme
The project should focus on one or more justice issues.
Themes may include poverty, gender equality, education, hunger, peace and security, water and sanitation, clean energy, decent work, climate action or sustainable cities.
Step 3: Connect Local and Global Issues
A strong proposal should explain how the project connects local experiences with global challenges.
Applicants should show how young people will explore the relationship between their own communities and wider global issues.
Step 4: Design Young Person-Centred Activities
The project should place young people at the centre.
Activities should be participatory, inclusive and relevant to young people’s lives.
Step 5: Include Training and Skills Development
Applicants may include training and skills programmes for youth workers.
This can help organisations build long-term capacity to deliver global youth work beyond the grant period.
Step 6: Plan Required Participation
Applicants should show that they can participate in Youth 2030 training, the Global Youth Work Learner’s Network and at least one One World Week 2026 event.
Step 7: Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants may request up to €5,000.
The budget should clearly support project activities and avoid ineligible merchandise costs.
Step 8: Consider Sustainability
Applicants should explain how learning from the project may continue after the funded period.
This may include embedding global youth work into existing programmes, training staff or developing future youth-led activities.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Applying as an organisation not based on the island of Ireland
- Proposing activities outside the required implementation period
- Submitting a project with weak links to global youth work
- Failing to connect local issues with global themes
- Not including young people meaningfully in the project
- Ignoring required Youth 2030 training participation
- Failing to join the Global Youth Work Learner’s Network
- Not planning to attend a One World Week 2026 event
- Requesting funding for T-shirts, baseball caps or similar merchandise
- Providing a vague budget
- Designing a project that does not address justice issues
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly explain the global youth work approach
- Focus on young person-centred learning and participation
- Connect local experiences to global justice issues
- Align with Sustainable Development Goal themes
- Include practical and creative activities
- Show how youth workers will build skills
- Demonstrate readiness to join required training and networks
- Use recycled materials where possible
- Present a clear timeline between July and September 2026
- Provide a realistic budget up to €5,000
- Avoid merchandise-based spending
FAQ
1. What is the Innovation Fund Grant?
The Innovation Fund Grant supports youth work organisations to develop innovative projects that introduce or strengthen global youth work approaches and address justice issues in a local-global context.
2. How much funding is available?
Successful applicants can receive funding of up to €5,000.
3. Who can apply?
Applications are open only to youth services and organisations based on the island of Ireland.
4. When must projects be implemented?
Projects must be implemented between 15 July and 30 September 2026.
5. What themes can projects focus on?
Projects can focus on issues such as poverty, gender equality, education, hunger, peace and security, clean water and sanitation, clean energy, decent work, climate action and sustainable cities.
6. Are applicants required to attend training?
Yes. Successful applicants must participate in Youth 2030 training, join the Global Youth Work Learner’s Network approximately every six weeks and attend at least one One World Week 2026 event.
7. What costs are not supported?
The grant does not support the purchase of merchandise materials such as T-shirts or baseball caps.
Conclusion
The Innovation Fund Grant provides up to €5,000 to youth work organisations on the island of Ireland to develop innovative global youth work projects.
The fund supports young person-centred activities that explore justice issues, connect local and global realities and strengthen youth work practice.
Applicants should prepare clear proposals that demonstrate creativity, strong youth participation, commitment to Youth 2030 learning activities and meaningful engagement with Sustainable Development Goal themes.
For more information, visit National Youth Council of Ireland.
