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National Grant Programmes

Our National Grant Programmes are a catalyst for positive change in the youth work sector in Scotland, inspiring growth and promoting innovation through investment, support, and collaboration.

At YouthLink Scotland, we are dedicated to supporting the youth work sector in Scotland. Our national grants programmes are designed to contribute to our three core organisational objectives:

Our grant programmes are designed with and for the youth work sector. We make over £1 million available every year through our main funds.

Over the last two years, we’ve made an additional £7 million available through Covid-19 grants related to education recovery, social isolation and loneliness and digital inclusion.

Our funds support youth work organisations to work with us, and the Scottish Government, to address important issues that affect young people in Scotland today.

Current Youth Work Funds

Young Person With Festival Makeup
Youth Arts Open Fund
The purpose of the Youth Arts Open Fund is to support freelance artists or organisations seeking small amounts of funding so that they can deliver arts activity for children and young people – primarily those who have traditionally found it hardest to access such opportunities.
Five people sitting around a table with laptops, looking at a monitor.
Youth Work and Adult Learning (CLD) Workforce Development Fund
The purpose of this Scottish Government fund is to support (CLD) third sector youth work and adult learning organisations that deliver youth work and/or adult learning, to develop their staff and volunteers to meet the needs of young people and adult learners across Scotland. Bids for funding from this fund should be for workforce development and relate directly to tackling child poverty, promoting education and skills for the most marginalised, and promoting equality, diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Legacy Funds

Youth worker standing in a wooded area talking and laughing with a young person
Social Isolation and Loneliness Fund
A small grants fund made available to youth work groups and organisations to help them support young people most affected by social isolation and loneliness.

Silhouette of a group of young people looking at a bright wintery sky
Youth Work Education Recovery Fund
This fund supported enabled the youth work sector across Scotland to support educational recovery in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.
Two groups of young people in kayaks on a lake in Scotland.
CashBack for Communities
The CashBack for Communities Youth Work Fund supported local, targeted youth work opportunities for young people and communities most affected by crime since 2008.
Youth workers chatting round a table
National Voluntary Sector Youth Work Organisations Support Fund (NVYWOSF)
The National Voluntary Youth Work Organisations Support Fund support workforce development within the voluntary youth work sector in Scotland.

Get in touch with our grants team

We’re always around for a chat if you want to run ideas by us or need help of any kind. If you need further information or support please contact Jane Dailly (National Grants Manager) and Donna Tobin (National Grants Administrator).

Email Jane Email Donna