Youth-Led Creativity Fund: Guide to applying

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The Youth-Led Creativity programme builds on young people’s power to make change, use creativity to enhance their lives, develop their careers, and influence the world around them. This guide has information about the funding available, who it's for, and how to apply.

Read this page for information about accessibility support as well the programme's aims and the funding available. Use the menu to find our how to apply, how we make decisions and other applicant resources.

Accessibility

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We have an Easy Read version of this guidance, which you can download from the applicant resources page.

If you would like, you can request information from us in a more accessible format to you. You can do this by email or phone: 020 7812 3700.

This guidance tells you how to apply. Please tell us if any part of the process that feels like a barrier. We will do our best to accommodate alternative arrangements.

We also have additional accessibility-related support available for applicants where our application process may be a barrier to applying. This can include an Access Payment to pay for support to apply.

Communications in BSL, Welsh, or another language: Unfortunately, we can only accept applications and communicate in English. However, we can cover the costs of any translation needed. To ask us about this, please send us an email to: communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.

The Youth-Led Creativity Fund

Young people leading the way carrying a banner that says 'We create the future'

We are focusing our support on arts and culture organisations based and working in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland; and where the work is led by, and for, young people underrepresented in arts and culture.

The programme has been co-designed with Esmée’s Involving Young People Collective – a panel of young consultants will work closely with Esmée staff to assess applications and make recommendations. This is to ensure the views and voices of young people are at the heart of the programme.

We will also use the Involving Young People Values to support our decision-making. The values were developed by Esmée’s Involving Young People Collective and offer guidance and learning for organisations on co-production with young people.

The Youth-led Creativity programme is part of our work to secure a fairer future.

The funding and support available

Hands holding up a jar of money labeled 'Youth-Led Creativity'
  • We expect to make 12 to 16 grants over the next two years
  • We will consider requests for core and/or project costs, and multi-year grants of up to £150k for the duration of the grant.
Illustration about learning with two people on their laptops working together and a big light bulb above them.
  • A Learning Programme runs alongside the funding. This will be co-designed by funded organisations and facilitated by a Learning Partner. Organisations will be compensated to support participation. The Learning Programme will:
    • Enable peer support and learning
    • Support funded organisations to develop and share their models of practice
    • Inform future developments of Esmée’s Youth-Led Creativity support.
Illustration to reflect different types of arts and creativity

Next: What we will and won't fund

Learn more about what we’re looking to support, what we won't fund, and how we make decisions.