Youth groups and charities across Shropshire can now apply for a share of a new £53,000 fund designed to develop leadership skills in 11 to 19-year-olds. Shropshire Community Foundation is administering the grants on behalf of Shropshire Council, with applications closing on Friday, 17 July 2026.
The Shropshire Youth Transformation Fund splits the total between two pilot programmes. The Future Youth Leader Programme offers £28,000 for projects that create opportunities for young people to lead and influence local services, while the Corporate Volunteering and Trusted Adult Programme provides £25,000 to strengthen voluntary youth organisations. Successful applicants will be notified by 28 July and must complete their projects by 29 August.
Shropshire Council secured its place in the national Local Youth Transformation Pilot in August 2025, one of just 12 areas chosen to receive government investment for rebuilding youth services. The £8 million national programme, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, aims to deliver a high-quality, needs-led out-of-school youth offer. Sonia Roberts, Trustee of the Shropshire Community Foundation, called the funding “an important step towards strengthening opportunities for young people across Shropshire.”
Councillor Andy Hall, Cabinet member for children and education, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Shropshire Community Foundation to be able to provide this support to young people across Shropshire by providing grants to local organisations who are doing brilliant work.” The geographical focus covers Shropshire, excluding Telford and Wrekin, and applications must be submitted through the foundation’s website.
Local businesses can also get involved through the Corporate Volunteering and Trusted Adult Programme, which supports Trusted Adult training and links volunteers to free DBS checks via the Royal Voluntary Service website. The pilot runs until 31 August 2026, with youth insight panels and an area youth assembly shaping how services develop.
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