About BwD YouthBank!

YouthBank is an innovative grantmaking initiative which is run by young people for young people.

Local YouthBanks provide small grants to fund young people's good ideas to benefit their own communities.

YouthBank is unique in that;

• It is young people themselves who make their own decisions about who recieves the money.
• Make decisions about their own YouthBank.
• The Young people also take a lead role in BwD YouthBank trust board.
• Young people also play a major role in YBUK.

When young people make their decisions, they should think about the funding they are giving, why they are giving it and the benefits they will have.

YouthBank puts money directly into the hands of young people, which will enable them to ensure young people's priorities and needs are met.

Adults do have an important part in this project as supporters, facilities and advisors.

All YouthBanks panels have their own style of running their groups but the golden rules apply to everyone!!

10 Golden Rules of YouthBank!

Although local YouthBanks develop in a variety of ways to suit local needs, there are some principles of YouthBank that have to be followed by all. 

These are the ‘YouthBank Golden Rules’.

1. YouthBank activity has to be young people led - at local, regional, national and UK-wide levels. The role of adults in YouthBank is to support and advise young people.

2. YouthBank is open to all young people.  We recognise that some young people may have barriers to overcome so that they can get involved – we will do our best to include these young people in YouthBank activity.

3. YouthBank offers young people the opportunity to find out about each other’s lives, cultures and experiences in a supportive environment.  YouthBanks therefore must respect the differences and talents of all young people.

4. YouthBank activity must be accountable, monitoring and reporting on how and where money is spent.

5. YouthBanks should communicate clearly, using simple language (not jargon), to make sure young people have the greatest possible knowledge of YouthBank activity at all levels.

6. YouthBank activity must add to the skills, knowledge and experience of young people – using a range of training, new experiences and activity-based learning, gaining accreditation where possible.

7. YouthBanks need to make time to learn from what they do – to reflect on their activity at all levels and not be afraid to make changes to the way they operate.

8. YouthBanks need to celebrate the achievements of young people.  YouthBank is a great way for young people to develop what they can do, we need to get this message across and have fun too!

9. YouthBanks must support young people to understand the YouthBank UK network ensuring they are aware of the local, regional and national progression opportunities available.

10.  YouthBank will work in partnership with other young people, groups or organisations where there are benefits for all to learn, develop and advance a positive view of young people.

YouthBank works!

YouthBank demonstrates that young people can and are able to take responsibility for spending real money and making decisions that affect their own lives and also the communities they live in.

BwD YouthBank History!

Blackburn with Darwen YouthBank has been running for 3 years and has been very sucessful. Last year, 69 grants were made to help young people participate in a wide range of activities. Around 850 young people benefited from YouthBank grants last year, and we are hoping to raise this number over the coming grant making cycles.

YouthBank Panels operate across the whole of Blackburn with Darwen.