LGBTQ+ Youth Groups Offered Grants of Up to £25,000 With November Deadline Approaching

LGBTQ+ youth organisations across England have until Wednesday 18 November 2026 to apply for grants of up to £25,000 through a £300,000 funding programme designed to create more opportunities for young people to develop friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging.

The Youth Joy Fund, delivered by the LGBT+ Fund through Consortium, has received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund as part of its You Decide programme, which gives communities greater involvement in deciding how money is distributed.

Grants ranging from £5,000 to £25,000 are available to eligible non-profit groups working with LGBTQ+ young people aged between 11 and 25, with applications closing at midday on 18 November.

What Can LGBTQ+ Youth Groups Spend the Money On?

The programme is designed to help organisations provide positive experiences for LGBTQ+ young people through activities that encourage friendships, social connections and participation in their communities.

Funding can support projects, trips, community events and other enriching experiences, with the aim of helping young people feel more confident, accepted and connected to those around them.

An important feature of the programme is the involvement of LGBTQ+ young people themselves, who have helped shape the fund and its priorities.

Funding decisions will also involve a community panel made up of LGBTQ+ people with different lived experiences, allowing those familiar with the challenges facing young people to help determine which applications receive support.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Applications are open to England-based non-profit organisations and youth groups that already provide services for LGBTQ+ people aged between 11 and 25.

Eligible groups must have been delivering youth work for at least two years and have established LGBTQ+ youth provision, meaning organisations cannot apply solely on the basis of plans to introduce a new service.

The fund is particularly interested in supporting areas that have historically received less LGBTQ+ funding, including the North East, East and South West of England, alongside communities with limited existing youth provision.

Projects involving disabled LGBTQ+ young people, those from minority ethnic backgrounds and others facing additional barriers are also among the programme's priorities.

Organisations do not have to be members of Consortium to apply, while previous grant recipients may remain eligible if they meet the relevant requirements.

How to Apply for the Youth Joy Fund

Applications can be submitted through an online form, with organisations encouraged to complete the eligibility checker and read the official guidance before beginning.

A video application option is also available for groups that would prefer to provide their answers verbally. Videos must be no longer than five minutes and should answer the same questions as the written application, with the fund's team transcribing the information for assessment.

Additional assistance is available for applicants who find forms difficult to complete, including support through a telephone conversation.

The organisers expect considerable demand and estimate that approximately one in five applications may be successful, although that figure is based on previous programmes rather than the number of applications already received.

Funding decisions are expected by the end of March 2027.

Applications close at 12pm on Wednesday 18 November 2026.

Apply here: Youth Joy Fund eligibility, guidance and application.