The report found there has been a rise in grantees using funding to “provide basic necessities for young people, such as food, clothing and health products”, coupled with a rise in core, staffing and service delivery costs.
But, thanks to the funding, 80 per cent of recipients felt optimistic about their organisation’s financial future thanks to the funding, while the fund also helped keep services accessible for young people and provided stability in a challenging financial climate.
R-City Youth CIC
A spokesman for the Belfast-based youth organisation said: “The grant has enabled us to cover organisation overheads – rent and room hire, electricity, as well as a contribution towards the cost of additional staff.
“This grant has ensured the organisation could continue to offer programmes and support for young people free of charge. This has been particularly useful given the pressure facing young people and their families due to cost-of-living increases.”
Evaluation
Evaluation of the first year of funding by members of UK Youth’s impact team has identified a number of key points:
-
- Grantees are feeling optimistic, but still navigating a difficult landscape;
-
- Grantees are increasingly using funding to provide basic necessities for young people;
-
- Grantees would value further access to training which supports governance and planning;
-
- Unrestricted, multi-year funding remains accessible and is highly valued by small grassroots youth organisations.
To read more about what the team has learned, click here.
About the Pears Foundation
The Pears Foundation is a family foundation driven by a desire to demonstrate the good that philanthropy can achieve in the world. It is the philanthropic foundation of the Pears family, who have given more than £450m to charity since the Foundation was established.
The foundation is focused on building long-term relationships with partners, providing core funding and offering more than money through our organisational and leadership development programmes, with the aim of demonstrating the foundation’s vision of good philanthropy and the value of leading by example.
Partners
UK Youth is working in collaboration with our nation partners – Youth Scotland, Youth Cymru, Youth Action Northern Ireland.
Where will my donation go?
UK Youth has been actively supporting young people and youth organisations through the cost-of-living crisis by:
- Distributing funding directly to youth centres;
- Advocating for wider long-term investment;
- Delivering high quality youth work programmes focusing on priority issues such as mental health and employability;
- Equipping youth workers with training and networking;
- Creating opportunities for young people to have their voices heard.
Your donation will not be restricted to any of the above. All donations are used where they are needed most and all will help our work supporting young people and youth organisations through the cost of living crisis.