Local Network Fund for Children and Young People

The Local Network Fund for Children and Young People (LNF) is now aligned to the Every Child Matters outcomes framework. There are now five outcomes and your project must fit with one of these:

Being healthy - which will support projects or activities that promote a healthy lifestyle so that children and young people are able to enjoy good health.
Staying safe - which will support projects or activities that contribute to children and young people being protected from harm and neglect and growing up to be able to take care of   themselves.
Enjoying and achieving - these could include activities like drama, music, writing, film or other arts groups, self-advocacy skills programmes and cultural projects.
Making a positive contribution - supports projects that enable children and young people to use their skills and abilities to enhance their own lives and the lives of their community.    
Achieving economic wellbeing - would support activities which help children and young people overcome income barriers and achieve their full potential in life.

The fund also particularly encourages projects under all of the outcomes to look at ways of helping children and young people to express their opinions and contribute to improving policies and services on issues that concern them.

The other criteria for the fund remain the same - you need to be a local, constituted group with a child protection policy and an annual income of below £100K. There is a little flexibility on the upper income limit if you were offering a more specialised project where you feel your organisation is best placed to deliver the activity. Your project must also involve volunteers (other than your Management Committee). LNF offers grants of between £250 and £7,000 and is available across the whole county of Notts and City of Nottingham.

If you have any problems or queries you can speak to a grants officer at Nottinghamshire Community Foundation on 01623 620202. Or you can contact the NCVS Funding Advisor, Cathy White, on 0115 934 8426 who can also help you with your application form and other paperwork or signpost you to other sources of funding if you aren't eligible for these particular grants.