Youth Empowerment Fund

£500 grants for youth-led social action in Westminster 

Are you aged 16–25? 

Got an idea to improve your community? Need funding to make it happen? 

If so, this opportunity is for you!

Youth Empowerment Fund Grants

Young Westminster Foundation and St Giles & St George have partnered to launch the Youth Empowerment Fund and we’re giving young people in Westminster up to £500 to bring their social action projects to life.

Social action is anything you do voluntarily to make a positive difference in your community – think a community mural, a neighbourhood event or an awareness campaign.

And here’s what makes it different: young people don’t just apply for funding, they decide who gets it too! Our grants panel is made up of young people who review every application and make the final funding decisions. 

This grants round has a deadline of Wednesday 30 September. Young people who are awarded a grant will be able to deliver their social impact project between October 2026 and March 2027.

What is the Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF)?

Whether you want to tackle an issue you’ve experienced, improve your local area or bring people together through a creative idea, the YEF can help make it happen. 

This is your chance to plan, develop and deliver a project that responds to something you genuinely care about. You don’t need experience. You don’t need to have done anything like this before. You just need an idea and the drive to make it real. 

You can apply as an individual or as part of a small group (of up to 4 people) and your project can take almost any form, as long as it makes a positive difference to people or places in Westminster.  

Projects run from October 2026 to March 2027, giving you up to six months to plan, deliver and see the impact of your idea. 

AND… If your application is successful, you won’t be left to figure it out alone. You’ll be welcomed into the fund at an in-person induction session, supported with monthly 1:1 check-ins throughout your project and celebrated at our Celebration Event on 2 June 2027 alongside other grantees and the wider YEF community. 

What is social action?

Social action is when individuals or groups come together to take voluntary action to make a positive difference in their communities, address social issues or improve people’s lives. 

Social action could include:

• Campaigning or raising awareness
• Fundraising
• Volunteering 
• Supporting others 
• Bringing communities together 
• Improving your local environment 

You don’t have to try and save the world. Small actions can create big change. 

Your project could be something like: 

• Repair and reuse workshops 
• Clothes swap or upcycling events 
• Community litter picks 
• Community sharing or swapping schemes 
• Zero waste and recycling initiatives 
• Activities that tackle loneliness or bring people together 

Need inspiration? Take a look at these social action ideas from The Key. 

Who can apply?

You can apply if you:

• Are aged 16–25
• Live, study, work or regularly attend an activity in Westminster (e.g. attend a youth club once a week)
• Have an idea for a social action project 
• Want to make a positive difference in Westminster 
• Can commit to delivering your project if your application is successful 

Please note: you can apply as an individual, or as part of a small group of up to 4 people maximum.

Ready to apply?

Please use the resources below to support your application. 

Read the Grant Guidance Pack before completing your application. It explains: 

• Who can apply 
• What you can apply for 
• How the application process works 
• What happens after you apply 

We recommend reading the Grant Guidance Pack from start to finish before beginning your application. 

Plus we’re offering two online Information sessions that you can attend to learn more about the fund, ask questions and get support before submitting your application:

• Information session 1: 5-6pm, Wednesday 26 August 2026

• Information session 2: 5-6pm, Wednesday 9 September 2026 

Register for an Information Session

Applications will be submitted via an online form. Before you submit your application you should read the Grant Guidance Pack and create a Project Budget using the Excel template shared below. You may also find it helpful to attend one of our two information sessions to help with your planning!

Then we suggest you might find it helpful to put together a draft of your application in our Word document template, so that you can copy and paste your answers into the online application form when ready.

Resource links

1. Grant Guidance Pack: pdf download 
2. Information sessions: choose the date that works best for you
3. Frequently Asked Questions: list for you to look through
4. Project Budget Template: all applicants must complete the Project Budget Template to show how they intend to spend their grant. Important note: when uploading your project budget to the application form please save it as a PDF and upload this to the application form as the application form won’t allow you to upload any document other than a PDF.
5. Word Application Form Template: you can download a Word version of the application form to draft your answers before completing the online application. Please stick to suggested word count limits in your answers (panel members will only read up to the word limit). You can use online word counter sites or MS Word tools to support with checking your word count.

Upload and submit your application 

When you’re ready, complete the online application form. 

Important Dates for your Diary 

Accessibility 

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the application process and programme. If you require any support to access the fund or complete your application, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Please email jade@youngwestminster.com

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