Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth

Capital Fund

Simon Fraiz-Brown

Democracy and Participation Team

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 What is the YOF/YCF?

• £1,734,880 from central government over

five years (2006- 2011)
• £186,054 YOF per year- “Things to Do”
• £160,922 YCF per year- “Places to Go”
• Applications from young people and
assessed by young people
• Applications need to meet one of the 5
Outcomes of ECM

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Participation of Young People

• Young people have been integral to the

delivery of YOF/YCF
– Involved in the development of the
guidelines
– Trained in assessing bids
– Assess the bids in small groups
– Taken difficult decisions as a whole
group

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Recruitment of Young People

Young people have been recruited through:

• Members of DYCE (Dorset Youth Council
Enables) the county youth council have led
the assessments
• Volunteers from Projects that have
previously been successful in their bid
have been invited to send young people to
assess bids

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Training Young People as Assessors

Each young person participating has

undertaken training. This has included:
• Demographical information about Dorset
• Information about YOF/YCF- what it is for
and where it has come from
• Criteria to assess against and practical
examples of how to assess bids
Young people have genuinely been given
the power to make decisions

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Assessment Criteria

– Is there evidence of young people

involved in the bid?
– Is the money for 13-19 year olds?
– Is there evidence it is needed?
– Is it for young people who live in Dorset?
– Does it fit one of the 5 ECM outcomes?
– Does it provide value for money?
– Does it benefit disadvantaged young
people?

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 How Much?

So far:
• Young people have assessed more than
200 bids
• The bids have totalled almost £2 million
• The young people have awarded £850,000
• 137 different projects have received
funding

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Outcomes for young people who have
bid
• Money has reached a wide range of
groups and young people. For example:
– A fishing project with young people at
risk of school exclusion
– Refurbishment of the kitchen in an
information and advice centre
– A residential for a Jitsu club
– Funds for a young mothers group
– Development of a new dance studio

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future
 Outcomes for young people involved

• 13 Young People have been accredited through

the Dorset Award for their work in assessing bids
• Young people involved in assessing bids have
learnt new skills around analysis, negotiation,
empathy and communication
• Young people have an increased awareness of
their own community and other communities in
Dorset
• Bridport Bandits Autograss Project won a
national award for their bid and extra money

Improving the quality of life for people in Dorset, now and for the future