Manchester Youth Fund & Play Fund 2013 - 2015

The Manchester Youth Fund and Play Fund 2013/2015 seeks to provide an appropriate, sufficient and equitable spread of provision for 5-19 year olds (up to 25 for those in vulnerable groups) across the city. Funding for both youth and play has been aligned for the commissioning of projects running from 1 July 2013 until 31 March 2015 in order to allow and encourage organisations to consider possible models that allow economy of scale and lead to innovative approaches that will make a real difference to children and young people in areas of highest need. Though aligned, the Youth Fund and the Play Fund will remain separate to reflect the individuality and specific outcomes unique to each area.

Youth Fund
The purpose of the Youth Fund (Lots 1 and 2) is to ensure that vulnerable young people aged 13-19 (up to age 25 for those in vulnerable groups) who are furthest away from the labour market have access to positive targeted activities which are appropriate to meet their needs and which will allow them to flourish in a safe environment. Through the delivery of local projects, which will provide a variety of programmes including recreational activities, informal learning and self development, the aim is to support young people in reducing their dependency and so help them move closer to economic independence.

Lot 1 - Youth Positive Activities – Targeted Universal/Personalised Support
Lot 2 - Youth Citywide

Play Fund
The purpose of the Play Fund (Lots 3 and 4) is to provide access for children aged 5-14 to positive play activities, targeting areas of highest need where child poverty and deprivation is highest and engaging with the most vulnerable children who are at risk of exclusion from achieving outcomes. We also seek to increase the quality of play in Manchester through participation in recognised quality assurance standards and to increase local community involvement in the design and delivery of play provision. Proposals for a range of provision are invited including outdoor play; park based activities and weekend and after-school provision, as well as an opportunity for providers to propose innovative new projects. An organisation is also sought to provide a training and mentoring role to help increase accreditation rates amongst local organisations.

Lot 3 - Play Positive Activities (Targeted Universal)
Lot 4 - Play Mentoring, Training and Accreditation

Activity will be commissioned from voluntary and community organisations of all sizes that have a proven track record of working with children and young people; that can demonstrate that they have existing practice in this field with evidence of results and that have a good knowledge of the local community in which the are based and have established networks and relationships with other agencies and the local community.

The purpose of both funds is to make sure that vulnerable young people aged 5-19 (up to 25 for those in vulnerable groups) from Manchester (and those for whom the City acts as corporate parent) have access to positive targeted services/activities which will best meet their needs in a safe environment.

Technical enquiries
Any technical enquiries can only be made between 3 December to 14 December 2013 and should be emailed to: [email protected]. Responses to the questions will be posted on our website, here: www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/manchester-youth-fund-and-play-fund-2013-15

For further information see attachments.

Deadline: Friday 25 January 2013, 12:00