The Rights in Action Small Grants Programme

The Rights in Action Small Grants Programme offers small grants to support YouthAction NI members to provide youth programmes or one-off events that promote rights-based youth work with their young people and communities. It aims to help local member groups:

• Promote youth voice, activism, and leadership

• Record the difference they make to young people and communities

• Respond to local needs and priorities

• Connect local members to the regional network

A total of £30,000 is available, and applications will be considered on a first come, first-assessed basis.

Round 1 - apply by 30th July, 2026

Round 2 - launching October 2026

How to apply? Email donna@youthaction.org for an application pack today.

‍

The Toy Trust

Welcome applications from small UK-based children's charities - working for the benefit of children across the UK. All applications should be supported by a registered Charity number, be in support of disadvantaged children aged below 13 years, come from a charity that has been running for a minimum of one full year, and be for less than £5000 unless a compelling case can be put forward. Trustees meet four times a year.

Apply here: How To Apply - Toy Trust

Deadline: Mid November

‍

Pilgrim Trust: Young Women in Mind 2026-2028

Young Women in Mind 2026–2028 is a joint funding programme from the Pilgrim Trust, the Prudence Trust and the Julia Rausing Trust. Together, they will grant £5 million over three years to strengthen and scale effective mental health services for girls and young women aged 14–25 across the UK. Their grants go to organisations that increase young women’s access to high quality, age and gender specific mental health services. Grants - £200,000 to £500,000 spread over three years. Young women’s mental health grants 2026-2028 - Pilgrim Trust

‍

British Council: Connections Through Culture Grants

Connections Through Culture (CTC) grants are designed to enable meaningful partnerships, cross-cultural exchange and long-term collaboration between the UK and participating countries. Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to support creative practitioners, cultural professionals, artists, organisations, festivals, biennials, hubs and collectives to develop and deliver projects across a range of themes and art forms.

Apply here: Connections Through Culture 2026 | British Council Arts

Deadline: Wednesday 12 August 2026, 23:59

‍

‍

YouthAction NI collaborated with our member organization, St. Patrick's Youth Club Keady, on the Ending Violence Against Women & Girls Project.

The young women and young men each crafted their own manifestos to raise awareness in the local community about how they can contribute to addressing EVAWG.

‍

They hosted a celebration event to officially launch their manifestos, with gratitude extended to local MLA, Armagh Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council councillors and staff, EA Youth Service, the EVAWG Team from the Executive Office, and the dedicated staff and volunteers from the youth club.

‍

Daire Finn remarked;

What I realized during my time on the project is that this issue is prevalent everywhere. It’s young men like us who need to step up to ensure that the young women who use the club feel safe in our community, just as we do.