Funding opens for voluntary youth organisations worth nearly £12million

The Education Authority (EA) has announced the launch of its £11.86 million Youth Service grant programme, inviting registered voluntary youth organisations - both regional and local - to apply for vital funding.

Youth organisations can now apply for funding across a number of opportunities including Local Area Based, Regional Project, Regional Development and Regional Strategic funding.

The funding awards released for 2026-2029 are an increase of 11% (£1.2 million) from the 2023-2026 period.

Following a year-long engagement process with youth service stakeholders, including children and young people, the funding opportunities are the first step to providing youth services in the right places, at the right time and for the right young people.

Having recently published the Regional Assessment of Need and Regional Youth Development Plan, the Education Authority have released today the Local Assessment of Needs and Local Youth Development Plans which set out an ambitious vision for youth service regionally and locally over the next three years.

The Assessments of Need put young people’s voices at the forefront of plans ensuring that all youth services delivered between 2026 to 2029 are evidence based and children and young person centred.

The funding awards released today have a focus on universal youth services ensuring that the EA Youth Service and the Voluntary Youth Sector can deliver quality youth services, through an open access approach and ensure youth services are open to all and delivery is based on children and young people’s needs.

Assistant Director for Youth Services, Arlene Kee, said: “We are delighted to be launching a series of funding opportunities for regional and local youth organisations to avail of funding for the 2026 – 2029 period.

Regional and Local Voluntary Youth organisations are invited to seek funding from the Youth Service grant programme which has been developed by the Education Authority and totals over £11.86 million.

“The awards are focused on ensuring that youth services are open to all children and young people’s based on their needs.

“We’ve listened and we’ve learned. The application process has been streamlined to ensure youth organisations have the flexibility they require and the opportunity to increase collaboration within the youth work sector.

“We want the youth sector to feel empowered and for every youth worker and the sector’s 22 thousand volunteers to have the resources and skills to improve the lives of children and young people accessing our services.”

All regional and local youth organisations who are registered with the EA Youth Service are eligible to apply.

There are a series of support workshops hosted by our Funding Support and Assurance Officers to provide information on current funding opportunities and assist with any queries in relation to the application process.

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Funding opportunities open on 3 November 2025, with applications closing on 28 November 2025. Assessment will begin in December and successful applicants will be notified by 15 December 2025. Funding will be made available to the successful applicants from 1 April 2026.

All funding awards open for applications are subject to budget from the Department of Education.

For more information on the funding opportunities launched today, visit Funding – EANI Funding.