Local Network Fund for Children and Young People

Letting the Future In - a celebration of innovative projects for children and young people July 2006
This resource highlights a number of innovative projects supported by the Local Network Fund. 

The Local Network Fund (LNF) for Children and Young People supports small voluntary and community groups to improve outcomes and opportunities for children and young people aged 0-19.

The object of the fund is to enable communities, with limited opportunities or access to services that many young people take for granted, to develop projects and activities for children and young people.

Advice and support is available to groups for project development, establishing and running community projects and developing safeguarding procedures. The fund offers grants between £250 and £7000.

Applications are invited under the following themes, linked to the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme:

• Being healthy
  Activities that promote a healthy lifestyle so that children and young people are able to enjoy good health, including
    - Sports sessions
    - Healthy eating classes
    - Peer support programmes on drug misuse
  
  
• Staying safe
  Activities that contribute to children and young people being protected from harm and neglect and growing up able to look after themselves, for instance:
   - Anti bullying projects
   - Safe cycling groups
   - After-school clubs
   - Self-defence groups
  
  
• Enjoying and achieving
  Activities that help children and young people maximise their potential and develop skills for adulthood, for example:
   - Theatre arts groups
   - Self advocacy skills programmes
   - Cultural dance and music projects
  
  
• Making a positive contribution
  Activities which enable children and young people use their skills and abilities in ways to enhance their own lives and the lives of their community, including:
   - Conservation schemes
   - Recycling programmes
   - Mentoring projects
  
  
• Achieving economic well-being
  Activities which help children and young people overcome income barriers and achieve their full potential in life, such as:
   - Preparation for work and training
   - Financial literacy classes for young people

The fund is a seven-year programme that began in 2001. It is delivered across England through a network of 57 voluntary sector organisations with community development and grant making experience.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families works in partnership with community foundations, rural community councils, councils for voluntary service and grant making trusts to provide an experienced fund administrator in each area. Administrators ensure that outreach and support are available to support applicants. Decisions on allocating funding are made by assessment panels comprised of people with knowledge of the issues faced by children in the communities served by the funds.

It is important to note that funding for LNF ceases in March 2008. From this date, local authorities will be responsible for the delivery of services for children and young people in their areas. DCSF has advised LNF Administrators to build relationships with local authorities so that they can play a part in the new delivery system. LNF Administrators are taking account of wind down and transition arrangements in their grant making processes to enable all Local Network Fund activity to be concluded by 31 March 2008.

Documents:

Local Network Fund grant - guidelines for application

Local Network Fund grant - sample application form

Positively Safe: a guide to developing safeguarding practices