Grants Available

Grant requirements

Volunteer-led youth work clubs and groups make an enormous contribution to the development and delivery of youth work across the City of Dublin. These groups consist of youth clubs, uniformed groups, community groups and special interest organisations. One of the ways that City of Dublin Youth Services supports and strengthens this contribution is by providing a range of grant schemes to support this volunteer-led youth work provision. There are four main grants available:

• Local Youth Club Grant Scheme
• Activity/Seasonal Programme Grant
• Training Grant
• Development Grant

In line with good governance practices and its functions in relation to youth work, City of Dublin Youth Services has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public monies, in line with economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Accordingly, we work to ensure that clubs and groups seeking exchequer funding through City of Dublin Youth Services are verified as bona fide organisations, meet the relevant eligibility criteria and are situated within the Dublin City Council area. Sports clubs, clubs/groups whose primary focus is sport and staff led clubs/groups are not eligible to avail of these grants.

Key eligibility criteria

The key eligibility criteria for these grants include:

• The club/group must be volunteer-led and based on the voluntary participation of young people.
• 75% of the club/group members must be between the ages of 10 and 21.
• The club/group must be fully compliant with all requirements of the Children First Act 2015. This includes having a Child Safeguarding Statement in place. (More information on this can be found on: www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-guidance-and-legislation).
• Garda Vetting must be in place and up to date in accordance with the requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012- 2016 and all adult volunteers/tutors working with young people must be Garda vetted before they start volunteering. (More information on this can be found on: vetting.garda.ie).
• Appropriate insurance cover must be in place.
• Volunteers must have access to a first aid kit and must be able to use it correctly.
• The club/group must have a Health and Safety Statement, policy, or procedures. (Note: this applies to clubs/groups that own premises. Clubs/groups that do not own premises must confirm that they have seen and operate to the building’s Health and Safety Policy).
• To be eligible for the Activity/Seasonal Programme Grant, Training Grant and Development Grant, the club/group must have applied for and received a Local Youth Club Grant in the current calendar year.
• A full detailed list of the eligibility criteria associated with each grant is issued with the relevant grant application and should be reviewed in full before commencing the application form.

Local Youth Club Grant Scheme

The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) supports volunteer-led youth clubs/groups that provide a programme of youth work activities for young people at a local level. Funding for the Scheme is provided by the Department of Education and Youth (DEY) and is administered locally by Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Priority is given to clubs/groups, catering for young people aged 10-21 years.

To support the work of volunteers, and to ensure that quality standards are adhered to in their work with young people, DEY incorporates the three National Quality Standards for Volunteer-led Youth Groups (NQSVLYG) into the LYCGS application process. It is the responsibility of the club/group applying for funding to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the LYCGS including the NQSVLYG and national youth organisations have a role in supporting their affiliated youth groups to attain the standards. Further information on the NQSVLYG is available here.

Activity/Seasonal Programme Grant

The purpose of the activity/seasonal programme grant is to support clubs/groups to develop and deliver an activity/programme that is new or additional to the normal activities run by the club/group throughout the course of the year, or seasonal programme(s) during holiday periods. The activity/programme must be educational and involve young people learning new skills or knowledge. The grant can be used for costs associated with tutors, equipment, and running costs. This grant is not for retrospective activities and all activities must take place after the grant is awarded. To be eligible for this grant, the club/group must have received an LYCGS grant in the current calendar year.

Training Grant

The purpose of the training grant is to support clubs/groups with the cost of training voluntary youth leaders to develop core competencies and skills in a range of areas suitable and appropriate to their voluntary work with young people. The course must be preapproved by City of Dublin Youth Services before commencement. This grant is awarded for retrospective training undertaken in the preceding calendar year and valid receipts must be provided with the application. To be eligible for this grant, the club/group must have received an LYCGS grant in the current calendar year.

Development Grant

The purpose of the development grant is to support clubs/groups to undertake essential refurbishment work. It is not a capital grant and may only be applied for once every three years. The grant must be applied for in advance of any works undertaken and the club/group must be able to show evidence of sufficient financial resources to complete the proposed work(s). The premises to which proposed refurbishment will be made, must be owned by the club/group or be on long-term lease to the club/group. To be eligible for this grant, the club/group must have received an LYCGS grant in the current calendar year.

Other grants

From time to time, City of Dublin Youth Services administer other grants on behalf of and as issued by DEY for voluntary clubs and groups. The purpose of these grants, associated application form, eligibility criteria, funding available and closing dates are as specified by DEY at the time the grant is made available.