How much money is a typical grant worth? And is there an upper limit on the grants?   

The amount we award to each project will depend on the type of programme that’s being delivered and the kind of evaluation we need to run to find out if it works. There is no cap on the amount we’ll spend.   

We’re expecting to make some quite large grants. That’s because, in our themed grant rounds, we’ll prioritise projects that are:   

• already delivering their programme to young people   
• ready for robust evaluation  

The evaluation budget is considered by YEF separately once successful projects have been identified so please apply for the grant amount that you need to deliver the project.

How much flexibility is there for the age criteria (10-18 years old) for Testing for Impact grant round projects?    

We recognise that some projects will work with young people beyond the age of 18 and some might work with children younger than 10. We expect the large majority of our funding to be used to support children within the specified age range.   

Are you allowed to apply as a partnership? 

Yes, we welcome applications from partnerships. But please remember that you should only submit one application per proposal (this should come from your designated lead partner organisation).   

Are you allowed to make more than one application, for example as a sole organisation and then also as part of a partnership?   

Yes, there’s no limit on the number of applications you can be a part of.   

Please remember that, if you’re applying as a consortium or partnership, you should only submit one application per proposal (this should come from your designated lead partner organisation).   

How long will you fund projects for?   

We support projects to start quickly and find our approach works best for projects that can be delivered effectively over a limited time frame. In this round, we expect the maximum project delivery time to be 24 months and are keen to hear from projects that can deliver within a shorter period.  

That said, we’re keen to set up projects for success and will work with you to identify the length of time needed to effectively set up, run and evaluate the intervention. 

Will existing relationships with public services or statutory agencies strengthen my application?   

It will strengthen your application if it helps to show that you’re likely to receive referrals to your project. One of the ways we’ll assess your application is on your ability to deliver the plan you set out – evidence of an existing relationship with the agency you want to work with could help to support that.   

You can read more information on the scope of the grant round and our assessment criteria in the application guidance (published on Monday 23^rd October).  

If my application is successful, when will I receive funds?   

If you join us as a partner, we’ll make quarterly payments (subject to monitoring returns).  

If my application is unsuccessful, will I receive individual feedback? 

Due to the high number of applications we’re expecting for this funding round, unfortunately we will be unable to facilitate requests for individual feedback. If unsuccessful in your application, you’ll be invited to attend an online workshop where we’ll share our collective feedback on the round and provide tips and advice for future grant applications. 

What types of organisation can apply?   

Our rounds are open to all organisations – in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Our only requirement is that your organisation is a formally registered legal entity.  

What will you look for in applications?   

We’ll prioritise applications from projects that are already delivering, are supported by some kind of evidence that they work and are ready for robust evaluation. This will improve our knowledge and understanding of what works to prevent children becoming involved in violence and help ensure every child gets the best possible support.  

These requirements do mean that these grant rounds won’t be quite right for every organisation.  

Is there any priority given to organisations that can match fund their project?   

There aren’t any expectations for match funding for applications to themed grant rounds.   

Is there a requirement from your side to try and make sure there’s a geographical spread of projects, taking into account those areas that have already received funding from previous rounds and to ensure that funding is being spread across the country? 

This isn’t something that we take into account when assessing projects. We are careful, however, to ensure that projects aren’t overlapping with each other in the same area so that two YEF projects aren’t working with exactly the same cohort of young people within the same area. This is something that we would work through with successful projects during codesign. 

Is there a percentage split of the number of primary, secondary or tertiary interventions you want to fund? 

No. In this grant round we are looking for projects that are ready to start an impact evaluation and can help us to fill gaps in the evidence.  

 
How long should the projects have been running for to be eligible? 

There isn’t a specific amount of time. A project is much more likely to be successful if it has been running for at least six months so that it can show that it is feasible to deliver. 

What is the rationale behind the designation of what you will fund in the primary or universal prevention? Is there any flexibility with this? 

We have highlighted Bystander Interventions and Relationship Violence Prevention as two areas that are potentially universal or primary prevention as we think that a lot of the delivery in those two areas would fall under these categories. The reason for not having further projects within universal and primary prevention is partly due to our mission in terms of preventing young people from becoming involved in violence and showing impacts on that and partly due to the evidence gaps that we have found through research and preparation for this round. 

 
Do primary interventions need to only cover Bystander Interventions and Relationship Violence Prevention or can they cover other subjects as well? 

They can cover other subjects as well, as long as those two areas are the primary focus of the intervention. 

 
When you say that applicants need to have experience of large evaluation programmes, what do you mean? 

We expect a large evaluation programme to be around 100 young people as we feel that this makes the project more likely to be successful.  

 
Are programmes that have received funding from YEF previously eligible? 

Yes. The only caveat to this is that if you are currently going through a regranting process then we would ask that you continue with that process rather than apply for further funding for the same project through a new grant round. 

 
Does previous evaluation have to be independent or can our own internal evaluation count? 

It doesn’t have to be independent. We want to know about what level of evaluation your project has had. That can be internal or independent. 

 
Are there any limitations on what project costs we can apply for eg. only a certain percentage can be for staff salary costs affiliated with delivering the project. 

No, there aren’t any limitations. The only stipulation is that any grants that the YEF awards, have to go towards the delivery of the project. There is the opportunity for successful projects to work through their budget in more detail during the co-design phase.  

 
From an evaluation point of view, what are the expectations from the delivering organisation during the co-design process? Do we work on the measures and instruments together or are they determined entirely by the external evaluator? 

There is an expectation is that you will work closely with the evaluator. The evaluator will lead on data collection and randomisation. You will then need to ensure that the intervention group (the treatment group) will be receiving the programme and the control group will be receiving business as usual. If there are any challenges, we expect that you let the evaluator and YEF know as early as possible so that we can help support you. With regard to instruments and measures, this will depend on the programme’s theory of change and the co-design process with the evaluator. 

 
Is there a minimum number of beneficiaries that we should have worked with in our project previously? 

We do have some requirements around this, but it’s more to do with the level of evidence that already exists. If a project doesn’t have evidence of impact from the previous evaluation, then we would expect that the project has worked with at least 500 young people, in one cycle or across multiple cycles. 

 
If the application includes internal evaluation, will the grantee also be matched to an external independent evaluator? 

Yes, all our projects have an independent evaluator which we commission through a competitive tendering process. All the projects that we fund are independently evaluated regardless of what evaluation has been done previously. 
 

 
If the project is part of a wider programme but the application is only for one project within the wider programme, does the theory of change need to be for the individual project or can it be for the wider programme? 

The Theory of Change would need to be for the specific project, though this would be developed further during co-design. 

If we have a project model which is delivered to different age groups but with the same or similar outcomes, so for example, there is a version for primary schools and for secondary schools, would you advise we focus our application on one rather than both? 

If this is a project that is the same for primary and secondary aged children we would suggest that you look at where you have the best evidence and where the project is most developed. 
 
If an organisation has several programs or services that meet more than one focus area, are multiple applications from the same organisation accepted? 

Yes. 

 
Do we need to have existing evidence that our project has prevented children and young people becoming involved in violence or is it sufficient to evidence other outcomes that are known to link to this Eg. reduction in behavioural difficulties? 

It is fine to have evidence from other outcomes as they are also relevant for this grant round. Your Theory of Change should be able to demonstrate how your existing evidence is linked to our primary outcomes of interest. 

Is there a possibility of forming a partnership bid?  

Yes, though a clear leader of the partnership should be clearly identified. This will be the organisation with which the grant agreement will be made. 

Regarding age bands, does the project have to be across the whole age range i.e. 10-18 year olds, or can it be focused on a smaller range eg 16-18 year olds? 

Yes, a smaller range within 10-18 year olds is acceptable, e.g., 16-18 year olds. 

If an intervention has already been delivered via YEF funding to 45 YP at risk of youth violence – and also delivered to 500+ other children and YP not at risk of violence – does that qualify as having been delivered to 500? 

Yes, as long as the programme has been delivered already and that it is relevant and appropriate for your target population.  

With regards to bystander interventions, are these specifically around sexual harassment, or can this bystander intervention funding be applied to other areas of violence? 

Yes, they can be applied to other areas of violence but we would expect some information around sexual harassment. 

Is there any scope for involving supplementary schools in the project? Or is it predominantly for mainstream schools?  

Yes, supplementary schools do qualify and would likely add to the diversity of a project. 

Can YEF assist with finding a partnership? 

No. Any organisation hoping to create a partnership must source this independently.  

If you are applying as a partnership, would each partner have had to work with 500 YP, or can the number be across the partnership? 

The number can be across the partnership, as long as it is the specific project being delivered. 

Do you have to know which schools in advance you would work with?  

No, you don’t need to know which schools you will work with; however, you need to be able to demonstrate how you will access and recruit this number of schools into the project. 

If we are currently working on a randomised control and / or potential QED, but not having completed it yet, would we still be eligible?   

There is a question in the application form about whether you are currently undergoing an evaluation, but this doesn’t mean that you would be ineligible. 

Primarily, we want to avoid duplicating any evaluations that are currently ongoing. 

How much time and capacity would be expected to collect and analyse the data for evaluation? 

This is mainly for the evaluator to consider when they are commissioned to the project. However, it can be helpful to consider in your initial budget for tasks related to evaluation; for example, collecting consent for the evaluation. This is explored more thoroughly during the co-design stage between the evaluator and project team. 

Does your evaluation standard include qualitative methods?  

This can be included. It will usually be worked out later with the evaluator. However, in this grant round we are aiming for large-scale impact evaluations, which would primarily rely on quantitative analyses.  

How will young people at risk of involvement in youth offending be counted for the purposes of meeting numbers for the knife crime intervention? For example, teacher assessments in schools; pupils living in geographical hot spots? 

The exact eligibility is determined by the project itself and this is explored further during the co-design stage with the evaluators. 

Do young people with lived and relevant experiences review the grant applications? 

Yes, YEF’s Youth Advisory Board will be invited to be a part of the assessment and are a valuable support to our work. 

Do you have an expectation of % spend against different areas of a proposed budget? eg. overheads/evaluation support/etc… 

No, the budget is quite high level because it is expected to change through development during the co-design stage. 

Will the projects be used as an intervention or shared with wider communities after the programme?  

Per our publication policy, our aim is to have a publication of every evaluation performed. The project teams are referenced in the evaluation report. 

What is the time period for delivery? 

The projects will be delivered within two years and that is one of our key criteria for this funding round. We expect our Grants and Evaluations Committee to sign off on the projects around October 2024, following a period of co-design and preparation. The detailed timings of the process can be found on our website.