Young Medway is inviting applications from local voluntary and community groups to apply for funding to create meaningful memories and experiences for young people aged 14 to 25.
This
Core Memories Fund is open to funding bids of up to £5,000, enabling organisations to deliver activities that build confidence, belonging and enjoyment.
The fund is particularly aimed at projects that benefit young people who are:
● Care experienced
● Living with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or who are neurodivergent
● LGBTQIA+
● At risk of exclusion
Applications should demonstrate how young people will shape and lead the experience. While projects can include a wider group of young people, those from the priority groups above should be meaningfully represented.
The Core Memories Fund uses a simple, relationship-based approach that places young people at the centre of decision-making.
Groups will be supported throughout a four-stage process:
● An initial expression of interest and eligibility check through the MVA Social Impact Gateway
● A collaborative conversation to shape the idea with young people
● Delivery of the activity or experience
● A reflective session to capture learning and celebrate achievements with young people.
Round 1 funding is open to local community and voluntary sector organisations, who will need to be members of Young Medway should you be awarded funding, with an income of under £100,000 per year.
Applicants must also be able to demonstrate appropriate safeguarding, governance and financial arrangements which will be assessed through the MVA Social Impact Gateway.
If applicants are not quite ready through the assessment process to receive funding, MVA and Young Medway will provide support to enable groups to apply to a later funding round. Click
HERE to contact Young Medway for more information.
We will be reviewing the first applications from Monday 6th July 2026 to enable us to meet with your young people to discuss their ideas during July and August. But we will accept applications for this first round until Monday 27th July 2026.
The Core Memories Fund is part of a national programme led by the Young People’s Foundation Trust and funded by the Henry Smith Foundation, with partners across the country working together to improve opportunities for young people.
Application Process
Applicants will need to sign up to be an affiliate of the Social Impact Gateway and become a member of Young Medway prior to submitting their funding bid.
If you have not already signed up as a SIG Affiliate, then you can do this by clicking
HERE.
Young Medway Membership
The application gateway is now open for applications and the closing date for this is Monday 27th July 2026.
Application is via the Medway, Swale and North West Kent Social Impact Gateway (SIG) and SIG Affiliates will be sent a link to the application once they are deemed ‘Grant Ready’.
Find out more about Young Medway's support online by clicking
HERE.