Young people to shape the future of Thurrock with new Youth Social Action Fund launch

Young people across Thurrock will soon have the opportunity to lead projects that make a real difference in their communities as Thurrock CVS launches the Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund.

The Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund is part of the #iwill movement and funding, made possible thanks to £89 million joint investment from The National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The #iwill Fund brings together organisations who all contribute funding to embed meaningful social action in young people’s lives. Social action includes activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering, enabling young people to make a positive difference in their communities while developing their own skills and knowledge. By bringing together funders from across different sectors and by making sure that young people have a say in where the funding goes – the #iwill Fund is taking a collaborative approach.

Locally, the fund will focus on supporting organisations to work with young people who are least likely to access traditional opportunities, helping them develop the confidence, skills and leadership needed to create positive change across Thurrock.

The online launch takes place on Thursday 2 July, when organisations will be able to find out everything they need to know about applying. Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund is asking young people in Thurrock and organisations in the borough that work with young people, to share the online launch content to increase awareness for this unique and life-changing opportunity. All information from the launch will be available to view online as of, and following the 2nd July.

To mark the launch, the winning design from a logo competition involving students from South Essex College will be unveiled.

Strategic Lead, for Children & Young People (Thurrock CVS), Daryl Branch, says;

“Young people are not just the future of our communities – they are already making a difference today. The Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund is about giving young people the opportunity, resources and confidence to turn their ideas into action. We want to support projects that are designed with young people, led by young people and capable of creating real and lasting change across Thurrock. By investing in youth leadership and social action, we are investing in stronger communities, greater civic participation and a brighter future for the borough”.

The Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund is delivered by Thurrock CVS in partnership with iWill, Thurrock Council, Thurrock Healthwatch, Thames Freeport, Active Essex, and joint funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Organisations interested in applying, and young people wanting to learn more, can follow the Thurrock Youth Social Action Fund on social media or subscribe to the Thurrock CVS newsletter here for updates throughout the programme.

Grants of between £10,000 and £30,000 will be available to eligible voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to deliver youth-led projects across Thurrock, with young people involved in shaping funding decisions and project design.