Learn about the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation, offering up to £150,000 over three years to organisations supporting young people facing systemic inequity. Eligibility, funding criteria, deadlines, and how to apply.

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Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation: Funding Up to £150,000 for Organisations Supporting Young People

The Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation is a major funding opportunity designed to support organisations working with young people aged 14–25 who experience systemic inequity. This long-term fund helps organisations strengthen how services, systems, and structures support young people as they transition into adulthood. Through multi-year funding, the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation invests in organisations that amplify youth voice, challenge inequities, and influence wider systems change.

This grant is part of Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s broader mission to advance social justice and create sustainable, community-led change. The fund is designed to support organisations that work beyond direct service delivery to address root causes, influence policies and practices, and reshape environments that affect young people’s lives.

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Aim of the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The fund specifically aims to:

• Support young people (14–25) facing systemic inequity

• Drive change in structures, systems, and practices that affect youth transitions

• Tackle root causes of injustice, not just symptoms

• Centre youth voice, agency, and leadership

• Recognise overlapping identities such as race, gender, ability, class, migration status, or sexual orientation

More about the Foundation’s mission can be explored here:
https://www.phf.org.uk

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Who the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation Supports

The fund supports organisations that:

• Work with and for young people (14–25)

• Focus on challenging transitions such as education, care, housing, or the secure estate

• Operate through an asset-based approach that centres youth strengths

• Are committed to anti-racism and equity-led practices

• Aim for systemic change rather than purely direct service delivery

Organisations led by people most affected by systemic inequities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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What the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation Will Fund

The Youth Fund provides:

• Up to £50,000 per year for 3 years (maximum £150,000)

• Funding for core costs, including staffing and organisational development

• Support to scale and deepen existing work, not create new or untested projects

• Funding for organisations with an annual turnover between £30,000 and £3.5 million

The fund prioritises work that:

• Addresses root causes

• Influences policy and systems

• Shapes narratives and public attitudes

• Improves external contexts affecting youth

Examples of previously funded organisations can be found here:
https://www.phf.org.uk/funded-projects

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What the Youth Fund Will Not Fund

The fund does not support:

• Newly registered organisations without audited accounts

• Projects without system-change potential

• Statutory services

• Direct service delivery without broader impact

• Research without a pathway to action

• Work focused solely on pathways to employment or education

• End-of-life care services

• Projects without youth-centred or equity-based approaches

A full list of restrictions is available on the official website:
https://www.phf.org.uk

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How to Apply for the Youth Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundation

Applications are submitted through a rolling application cycle, meaning organisations can apply at any time. This flexible approach allows applicants to prepare strong, well-developed proposals without the pressure of a fixed deadline. It also enables the foundation to review applications continuously, ensuring timely decisions and allowing organisations to seek support when it is most strategically beneficial for their work and long-term plans.

Apply directly via the official Youth Fund page:

👉 https://www.phf.org.uk/funding/youth-fund/

To apply, organisations must prepare:

• Organisational information and governance details

• Financial reporting and accounts

• A detailed explanation of how their work drives systemic change

• Evidence of youth leadership and an asset-based approach

• Plans for how funding will strengthen long-term impact

For questions: information@phf.org.uk

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Application Deadline

No fixed deadline – Rolling application cycle

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

For more international career opportunities, visit Opportunities For Youth:
https://opportunitiesforyouth.org