Students in Year 8 have joined a new youth grant-making panel at Frome Town Council to have their say on where funds should be spent.
The Young Opinions Unite (YOU) panel will select successful applicants for grants of up to £2,000, from a total fund of £10,000, aimed at projects supporting children and young people in Frome.
The panel have chosen their name and designed the application and selection processes for the grants. The process runs alongside the standard round of community grants, which also begins in December.
YOU will fund projects that meet the following criteria: listen to the children and young people, offer free or affordable activities, have a positive impact on the environment, are accessible to all, including those with disabilities, hold the key words ‘respect’ and ‘equality’ at the heart of what they do, offer a safe space for children and young people, tell us what age range the project is for, and have the relevant safeguarding policies and DBS checks.
Panel member Ella said, “We want you to apply so that we can make an incredible difference for the young generation of Frome.” Another young person on the panel, Matilda, said, “You should apply for a grant because we will make sure you get your voices heard and you will be helping children everywhere.’
Children and Young People’s Officer Melody Hunter-Evans visited Oakfield Academy, Avanti Park School, Selwood Academy and Critchill School earlier in the school year and invited hundreds of Year 8 students to vote on the provision they felt was most needed for young people in Frome.
The clear winners were ‘spaces’ and ‘free and affordable things to do’ and this fed into the discussion at a young people’s forum at the town hall in October, attended by 28 students from the four schools. Young people who took part in the forum were invited to apply for a place on the panel and the resulting group are the first cohort of Young Opinions Unite.
Chair of the Frome Town Council grants committee, Cllr Anita Collier, said, “We’re so pleased to have this new panel and fund, not just because of the members’ wonderful energy and enthusiasm but also because no one is better placed to make choices about the projects for young people in Frome than young people themselves.
“They’ve worked so hard already, coming up with scoring criteria, a completely new application form and a name and logo for the project, in just a few meetings. They’re now having a well-earned rest till after Christmas, before they come back to consider all the applications – we’re sure they’ll be inspired by what they read and proud of what they make possible through the fund.”
Applications for the Young Opinions Unite fund are now open. Download a form from bit.ly/ftc-young-opinions-unite and send your completed application to sjames@frometowncouncil.gov.uk by Monday 23rd January.
Find details about the concurrent round of Frome Town Council community grants at bit.ly/ftc-grants.
