Emergency Funds

The Irish Youth Foundation (UK) also provides two emergency grants;

Immediate Youth Focus

Following consultations with organisations the IYF (UK) regularly supports a new initiative was launched, “Immediate Youth Focus”, to kick-start a lifeline for young people caught in a changing climate and who were living in abject poverty.

COVID 19 Recovery Fund

In September 2020, the Irish Youth Foundation announced the establishment of a new initiative to help selected community organisations sustain the future survival of their valuable welfare work affected by the Covid-19 epidemic.

Learn about these life-changing initiatives and the beneficiaries below.

Immediate Youth Focus Fund

Since 2013, £110,00 has now been awarded to organisations for use at their discretion to provide emergency help for young people in dire need. The following welfare organisations have benefitted since Immediate Youth Focus was established including; Irish Community Care, Irish Community Care Manchester, London Irish Centre, New Horizon Youth Centre, Solace Women’s Aid and Trustees of the Hampton Settlement (YouthAction Northern Ireland).

This initiative has been welcomed as a truly beneficial and essential resource by the organisations involved.

2013

A Discussion Day was held with organisations the charity regularly supports to review the changing needs of the young Irish community and their continued need for funding. The following issues were highlighted:

Young people of Irish heritage continued to arrive in the UK unprepared for life, often in a chaotic state and in dire need, with no access to funds.
Agencies supporting young people in need were themselves struggling to cope with demand and changes in the welfare system (and reductions in statutory core funding).
Food and shelter were immediate and urgent priorities and emergency repatriation where appropriate.

Following this consultation a new initiative was launched, “Immediate Youth Focus”, to kick-start a lifeline for young people caught in a changing climate and who were living in abject poverty. The aim was to provide an emergency safety net over the difficult winter months and beyond for destitute young individuals up to the age of 30. Funding was provided to 5/6 agencies supporting young people of Irish descent, but not exclusively, in London and other inner-City or deprived areas around the country, and which were well-equipped to address these needs.

2018

Another Discussion Day was held with organisations supported in Britain and Northern Ireland to review the changing needs of the young Irish community in the past 5 years. The main points emerging were:

Welfare agencies reported an increase in young people coming forward with mental health issues due to problems caused by poverty, job insecurity, low pay and housing challenges. A broad definition of Irish heritage was required to reflect the changing nature of the Irish community including mixed heritage, cultures, race, identities and sexualities.
Holistic support for mental and physical wellness was a priority.
Youth unemployment of 16 to 24-year-olds in Northern Ireland remained the highest in the UK. IYF continues to work in areas of tension and deprivation with support for good leadership in order to build positive and better relationships within and across communities through schools, youth and community.

These changing needs continue to be addressed with renewed attention and flexibility of approach.

COVID-19 Recovery Fund

In September 2020, the Irish Youth Foundation announced the establishment of a new initiative to help selected community organisations sustain the future survival of their valuable welfare work affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. The Irish Youth Foundation’s Chairman, John Dwyer, said:

“I’m delighted to announce that this year we will be awarding close to £300,000 in grants to welfare and community groups working with young people of Irish heritage and their families. This is the highest amount the IYF has ever awarded in one year. The Board of Trustees and I felt we should make more funds available in these unprecedented circumstances to help ensure the future survival of organisations we know and trust working in welfare. Many of them will struggle to maintain their much-needed services following the emergency lockdown and beyond into next year. Hence we have established a special new initiative – the IYF Covid-19 Emergency Recovery Fund - in order to help them recover and continue their valuable work with young people in need.”

He continued:

“The new fund is intended to be as flexible and effective as possible, allowing the recipient organisations the freedom to decide the best use of the funds according to their need. We are making £100,000 available and have invited selected organisations well-known to IYF in Britain and Northern Ireland to apply for a once-only grant of £7,000 for a period of 1 year.”

2021

The Irish Youth Foundation is delighted to support YouthAction Northern Ireland to provide small grants to 32 local member organisations, to help them meet the needs of young people in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The groups will deliver summer projects with young people, get young people outdoors and have fun positive experiences, in towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland. This special initiative is also kindly supported by The Hampton Settlement Trust, The Guardian Foundation and The Pears Foundation.

YouthAction NI’s members (with an annual turnover of less than £250,000) could apply for a grant of up to £1,500 to help address the impact of COVID-19 and the inequalities and deprivation faced by young people they work with. A total of £47,522.72 was awarded to which local representatives commented;

“Well done to YouthAction Northern Ireland in securing funding for its YouthAction Northern Ireland Youth Work Support Fund.
These small grants will enable local groups across Northern Ireland to engage young people in a wide range of summer activities which will bring a bit of fun into young people’s lives after the impact and challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. I wish all the participants on the projects a fun, happy summer.
Thanks also to the funders who provided the essential money for this Fund, The Irish Youth Foundation, The Hampton Settlement Trust, The Guardian Foundation and The Pears Foundation who have made this possible.”

Junior Minister Gary Middleton MLA

“Young people have been amongst those hardest hit by this pandemic so I commend YouthAction for their efforts to boost the work of local organisations that are delivering summer projects for this cohort. This grant money will make a real difference to people’s lives and help to address the widening inequalities that Covid-19 has shone a light on.
It is particularly great to see so many beneficiaries in our local Council area, with YouthLife, Irish Street Youth & Community Association, Melmount Youth Forum and Strabane AYE all receiving grants to support their important work. I am sure plenty of new friendships will be forged and positive experiences shared. I wish all the participants a happy summer!”
I appreciate the support from the funders The Irish Youth Foundation, The Hampton Settlement Trust, The Guardian Foundation and The Pears Foundation who have made this possible.”

Sinéad McLaughlin MLA

2021

Corpus Christi Youth Centre

Ballymurphy
The centre will Restart and re-engage young people after COVID closures. The programme will focus on encouraging positive behaviours and taking young people on trips and outings.
Crossgar Youth Club

Ballymurphy
Volunteers and part-time leaders will help with RESTART after being closed for 12 months, run a summer programme of fun activities and outdoor learning for young people, rebuild friendships, and reconnect with the youth club.
Irish Street Youth & Community Association

Derry~Londonderry
Funded for a neighbourhood safety project, the Irish Street Youth & Community Association reaches out to young people, involved in bonfire collecting, to distract them away from these activities and potential policing issues.
Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project

Portadown
Supports young people who are at risk of involvement in criminal gangs. Through street work, young people connect with the project to undertake a health and well-being programme.
Melmount Youth Forum

Strabane
Melmount Youth Forum encourages young volunteers to participate in team building, outdoor activities and take young people out of the area for fun activities to relieve stress.
Newry Street Unite

Kilkeel
Are running a Healthy Teenz programme, over the summer, for young people aged 12 – 18 years. The programme will include weekly sessions and take-home activities.
Sensory Kids

Ballymena
Sensory Kids is a volunteer-led charity for young people with autism will run mindfulness sessions.
Tobin Youth Centre

Cookstown
COVID has disrupted young people’s education badly. This project is to support children who have been identified as falling behind with academic support during the summer when they attend the youth centre.
Year Project@CRUN

Causeway Coast & Glens
Support the youth steering groups recommendation of a summer programme to build positive mental health and well-being; get outdoors and reconnect.
Youth & Community Centre

Mayobridge
After a disrupted year, the centre will engage young people aged 16 – 18 years in a summer leadership and volunteering programme - this will build up leadership skills for September and the reopening of activities after COVID closures.
Youth Lyric

Belfast
Youth Lyric ran a summer programme in performing arts to address the isolation of COVID for young people from economically disadvantaged families.