Surrey Young Mayor’s Youth Project Fund

The Surrey Young Mayor's Youth Project Fund (SYMYP Fund) is back and ready for your applications.
After a year off, we have a new Young Mayor Team, and a new pot of funds to spend on Surrey youth lead community projects.

About the fund

The fund, created and led by young people, is for youth led community projects. Projects funded by SYMYP Fund must directly benefit young people in Surrey. Our funding could support any projects from planting trees, to organising an LGBTQ+ event. This is just an idea so be creative.

If you are eligible and your project fits the below funding criteria, you are ready to apply.

Fund criteria

Your projects must be created and led by young people and tie in with at least one of the following strategic priorities:

• improving health and wellbeing, tackling inequality, and empowering communities to thrive
• growing a sustainable economy, understanding finance, and supporting jobs
• creating a greener future by tackling climate change and protecting the environment

Young people under 18 must have an adult project guarantor to oversee the project.

Young people 18 or over must have an adult sponsor to support them through the project.

For example, they could be a:

• parent
• carer
• teacher
• youth worker

Your projects should support Surrey's mission of tackling inequality, so no one is left behind.

Application form

Start your SYMYP Fund application

Applications close at midnight on 31 December 2024.

Before you start

Who can apply?

If you are a young person aged 11 to 25, you can apply for the SYMYP Fund, as long as one of the following applies:

• you live, study, work, or volunteer in Surrey
• you access services in Surrey
• you are a care-experienced young person or care leaver who has been in Surrey's care

How much money can I apply for?

• young people applying as individuals or small groups can apply for up to £500
• young people applying on behalf of a youth organisation can apply for up to £1000
• only ask for what you need, as this will allow us to fund more projects

Support

If you have any questions or would like guidance on your application, email youthcabinet@surreycc.gov.uk

Application process

1. Read the terms and conditions listed below
2. Complete the application form
3. Once the application window closes on 31 December 2024, you will be contacted with the outcome of your application within 10 working days
4. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to complete a more detailed proposal to present your full plan and budget to the team
5. If successful, you will be awarded your funding

Terms and conditions

Our priorities

1. Your event, purchase, or project will assist Surrey County Council and the Surrey Youth Cabinet in achieving one or more of our strategic priorities, listed under funding criteria.
2. Your application will clearly demonstrate how your event, purchase, or project directly benefits young people and their communities in Surrey
3. Your application supports Surrey County Council's Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion policy.

Our terms and conditions

1. Your application will demonstrate how your event, purchase, or project provides value for money in the use of public funds
2. You will provide a full breakdown of your costs if shortlisted for funding
3. Our application will not include VAT where recoverable, e.g. work carried out by Surrey County Council (this might be relevant if working with an organisation / business, and our team can advise on this if necessary)
4. You will use our funding solely for the purposes specified in your application. If any changes to costs or timescales are needed, you will inform and seek approval from the Young Mayor Team
5. You will provide evidence that the project has started within two months of receiving funding. Further evidence must be provided every two months until the project is completed. If you cannot complete your project, you must inform the Young Mayor Team and arrange for the return of your funding in full
6. You confirm that your business, charity, or community organisation has a linked bank account, details of which will be requested following confirmation of a successful application. If you are not working with an organisation, the guarantor's bank account will be requested
7. You acknowledge that if your organisation has previously registered with Surrey County Council as a vendor, we will make payment to the bank account details held on our payment system unless you specifically request otherwise. To request otherwise please contact the Young Mayor Team on youthcabinet@surreycc.gov.uk . Allow up to five working days for the change in account details
8. You will take on full responsibility for obtaining all permissions, including licences and insurance required for your project. If you are under 18, the guarantor will take on full responsibility for this
9. You will take on full responsibility for any ongoing and future running costs or maintenance associated with the event, purchase, or project, and will clearly state this in your application form
10. Where you have been awarded up to £500 this will be paid once the application has been approved, at the start of the project. Awards of up to £1000 will be paid in two installments: once at the start of the project and at an agreed midway point of the project

Publicity

1. You will acknowledge the funding from the SYMYP Fund when referencing or publicising your event, purchase, or project. For example, 'Funding for this project was awarded by the SYMYP Fund
2. You will submit evidence of the expenditure (e.g. receipts, invoices, pictures, videos, etc.) within two months of the receipt of funding and thereafter every two months. On completion of the project, you will submit feedback on a template that will be provided to you (including receipts, invoices, pictures, videos, press releases, awards, etc.)
3. By providing photographic evidence, you will give Surrey County Council permission to use the images on its website and other media platforms, including social and digital, and that all permissions have been granted to enable such use

Specific exclusions and restrictions

If the applicant is under 18, the guarantor must accept legal responsibility for entering into the contractual Terms and Conditions. By agreeing to these terms and conditions you are specifically acknowledging the Exclusions in section one of the application form, summarised below:

• There are legal and other organisational considerations that limit how the funding will be used. Funding political organisations and/or political activities; teaching national curriculum subjects and/or learning-related activities contained in the annual School and Early Years Finance Regulations; supporting contentious planning matters or disputes; activities causing reputational damage and conflicts of interest for Surrey County Council, including campaigns against the council or its statutory partners
• When completing the application form, the guarantor will be required to digitally sign to confirm that they have read and understood the terms and conditions set out, and will adhere to them