Deadline: 27-Feb-2026

The Creative Youth Nurture Grant Scheme supports youth-led creative projects across Ireland and Northern Ireland to strengthen relationships, build shared experiences and encourage cross-border collaboration. With two major strands running from 2026 to 2028, the scheme funds organisations that empower seldom-heard young people through creativity, community partnerships and meaningful youth participation. Up to €2.3 million in total funding is available for innovative, youth-centred cultural initiatives.

Overview

The Creative Youth Nurture Grant Scheme invites organisations to propose youth-led creative projects that strengthen social connection, cross-border collaboration and shared experiences across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Delivered through the Shared Island and Creative Ireland partnership, the scheme aims to empower young people as cultural leaders and active contributors to a more connected island.

Purpose of the Scheme

The initiative recognises creativity as a catalyst for social cohesion, wellbeing and civic participation. Through imaginative projects shaped directly by young people, the scheme aims to:

• Deepen community-to-community and person-to-person relationships across the island.

• Promote shared understanding, positive identity and long-term collaboration.

• Create youth-led cultural legacies that support inclusive and connected communities.
  Creative Ireland’s involvement in the Shared Island initiative extends through 2028, reinforcing the programme’s long-term vision for youth empowerment and cultural inclusion.

Programme Structure

The scheme operates through two funding strands:

Strand A: Nurture Fund 2026–2027

• Total budget: €800,000

• Approximately 8 projects funded

• Maximum award per project: €100,000

• Focus: Youth who are seldom heard, including:

  • Disabled and neurodivergent young people

  • Refugees and asylum seekers

  • LGBTQI+ youth

  • Traveller and Roma communities

  • Young people in care or the justice system

  • Children facing mental health challenges

  • Youth experiencing significant socio-economic disadvantage

• Projects must be implemented within Ireland and show strong expertise in working with these priority groups.

Strand B: Nurture Fund – Shared Island 2026–2028

• Total budget: €1.5 million

• Approximately 6 major cross-border projects

• Maximum award per project: €250,000

• Mandatory requirements:

  • At least one partner from Ireland and one from Northern Ireland

  • Strong in-person engagement between young people from both jurisdictions

  • Activities aligned with the Shared Island initiative

  • Contribution to themes of the Shared Home Place Programme

• Projects may focus on seldom-heard youth cohorts and must clearly demonstrate cross-border relationship-building.

Core Principles

Youth-Led Design

Projects must:

• Centre children and young people as decision-makers

• Use best-practice youth participation frameworks

• Provide young people with real agency in shaping ideas, activities and outputs

Community and Creativity

Initiatives must occur outside school settings and:

• Be grounded in local community contexts

• Involve artists, cultural organisations and creative practitioners

• Encourage shared experiences and collaborative creativity across the island

Evaluation and Learning

Each project must:

• Appoint an independent evaluator from the outset

• Participate in structured evaluation linked to Creative Youth Plan and Shared Island research (2026–2028)

• Track participation, document learning, and measure social and creative impact

Who Is Eligible?

A wide range of organisations may apply, including:

• Youth and community development organisations

• Arts, cultural and creative organisations

• Family resource centres

• Local authorities (as partners)

• Registered charities and non-profits

• Social enterprises and creative businesses

• Research bodies and ETBs
  Lead organisations may:

• Apply to both strands

• Participate in multiple partnerships simultaneously

Key Requirements for Applicants

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A clear strategy for youth recruitment, engagement and decision-making

• Strong governance, financial management and delivery capacity

• Commitment to cultural access, creative empowerment and inclusive practice

• Ability to report outcomes with youth input
  For Strand B:

• Experience facilitating cross-border cooperation

• Capacity to manage partnerships across Ireland and Northern Ireland

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Identify the appropriate funding strand (A or B).

2. Form partnerships, especially cross-border partnerships for Strand B.

3. Co-design the project with young people using youth participation frameworks.

4. Prepare a detailed budget, governance plan and evaluation strategy.

5. Highlight how the project engages seldom-heard youth (Strand A) or supports cross-border collaboration (Strand B).

6. Submit the completed application before the deadline with all required documentation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing school-based projects (these are ineligible)

• Using tokenistic youth involvement instead of authentic co-creation

• Lacking clear evaluation plans or neglecting to appoint an evaluator

• Weak partnership structures, especially in cross-border projects

• Failing to show previous experience with priority youth groups

• Insufficient evidence of governance or financial oversight

Why This Scheme Matters

The Creative Youth Nurture Grant supports:

• Stronger cross-community and cross-border youth relationships

• Enhanced wellbeing through arts and culture

• Greater inclusion of seldom-heard young people

• Empowerment of youth voices in shaping the shared future of the island
  By investing in creative collaboration, the scheme helps young people build understanding, resilience and leadership rooted in collective imagination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do projects need to be youth-led?
Yes. Young people must have meaningful decision-making roles throughout the project.

2. Can organisations apply to both strands?
Yes. A lead organisation may submit applications to both strands and join multiple partnerships.

3. Are school-based projects eligible?
No. All activities must take place outside the school environment.

4. What types of creative activities qualify?
Arts, culture, digital media, storytelling, performance, collaborative design and other creativity-focused approaches.

5. Who should serve as the project evaluator?
An independent evaluator with experience in youth, arts, social impact or community development.

6. What is required for cross-border projects in Strand B?
At least one partner from Ireland and one from Northern Ireland and clear in-person engagement between youth from both areas.

7. Can projects focus on seldom-heard youth in both strands?
Yes, but Strand A specifically prioritises these groups, while Strand B encourages (but does not mandate) this focus.

Conclusion

The Creative Youth Nurture Grant Scheme offers a major opportunity to empower young people as cultural innovators and social bridge-builders across Ireland and Northern Ireland. By investing in creativity, collaboration and youth leadership, the programme aims to nurture a generation that understands the value of shared experiences and collective imagination in shaping the island’s future.

For more information, visit Department of Culture, Communications and Sport