GrantRadar

LGBT+ Fund (powered by Consortium), with The National Lottery Community Fund

LGBT+ Fund: Youth Joy Fund

18-month grants of £5,000 to £25,000 for England-based non-profit organisations and youth groups with at least two years' youth work and existing LGBT+ youth provision, to foster joy, belonging and positivity for LGBT+ young people aged 11-25 through projects, trips and enriching experiences. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund's You Decide programme, with a panel of LGBT+ young people making the decisions. The fund has £300,000 in total and the funder expects about 1 in 5 applications to succeed. Video and supported (phone) applications are offered.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£5,000 – £25,000
Deadline
31 days left
18 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • An England-based non-profit organisation or youth group that currently supports young people aged 11-25, either (a) an LGBT+ organisation or youth group primarily supporting LGBT+ youth, or (b) a wider organisation or youth group whose work with LGBT+ young people is led by LGBT+ people (for example an LGBT+ youth group run by LGBT+ youth workers within a wider youth organisation)
  • Applicants must have delivered youth work for at least 2 years and already have LGBT+ youth provision
  • They need a governing document, at least two unrelated trustees, committee members or directors, a child safeguarding policy reviewed in the last year, appropriate DBS checks (enhanced for those working directly with young people), recent accounts, and a bank account in the organisation's name or with a fiscal hosting platform
  • Consortium membership is not needed; current and past LGBT+ Fund grantees can apply for different work
  • Priority goes to historically underfunded areas such as the North East, East and South West of England, areas lacking provision, and intersectional work (for example with disabled or global majority LGBT+ young people)

What it funds

Work that fosters youth joy, belonging and positivity for LGBT+ young people aged 11-25, aiming at one or more of these outcomes: increased accessibility to safe spaces; supporting young people to gain community and friends; stronger networks and skills; improved access to trips, events and other recreational experiences; confidence in themselves and their identity; improved education on queer communities and history; learning methods to maintain a positive life; improved physical and mental health; development of new interests and activities. Costs can include:

  • Core or running costs such as staff salaries, building rent, utilities, management, administration and training costs
  • Project and activity costs such as venue hire, refreshments, volunteer expenses or participant transport costs
  • Activities in person and online (online work must follow emerging guidance on under-16s' access to social media)
  • Activities in education settings such as schools, colleges and universities
  • Small capital purchases required for a project

the fund is keen on applications that give young people access to fun and enriching activities and experiences. Grants must be fully spent within 18 months of award.

What it will not fund

  • Brand new youth organisations (delivering youth work for less than 2 years) or organisations new to supporting LGBT+ young people
  • More than one application per organisation or group
  • Organisations that charge attendees fees for their activities, unless there is a strong reason
  • Organisations with fewer than 2 unrelated trustees, directors or management committee members
  • Individuals
  • Statutory organisations such as local authorities and schools
  • NHS bodies
  • Organisations that cannot show they work in an inclusive, non-discriminatory way
  • Organisations based outside England, or activities outside England
  • Standalone or large capital purchases
  • Research
  • Political groups
  • Work that promotes religion (evangelises or proselytises)
  • Organisations that will distribute the grant to others
  • Retrospective costs, including repaying loans
  • Organisations with a history of non-compliance with Consortium grant conditions
  • One-off events for LGBT+ young people by general organisations, all-ages Pride events, or setting up a new LGBT+ youth group with no prior provision (the funder's own examples of ineligible work)

How to apply

  1. Use the eligibility checker on the fund page
  2. Read the fund guidance document (essential before applying)
  3. Apply through the online form on the Consortium portal by 12pm midday on Wednesday 18 November 2026, or send a video application of up to 5 minutes answering all the form questions
  4. Light-touch due diligence checks by the Giving Team (November-December 2026)
  5. A panel of LGBT+ young people assesses applications and decides (December 2026-February 2027)

a PDF of the questions is available from the form's introduction to prepare answers, but it cannot be used to apply. Supported applications by phone are available; contact giving@consortium.lgbt early. Write for young readers aged 15-26 and avoid jargon; round budget items to the nearest £10 and the total ask to the nearest £100.

Have ready

  • Constitution or governing document
  • Details of two or more unrelated trustees, committee or board members, or directors
  • Correspondence address and contact details
  • Child safeguarding policy reviewed within the last year
  • Confirmation that staff and volunteers have DBS checks at the right level (enhanced for those working directly with young people)
  • Recent accounts
  • Budget for the amount requested
  • Bank account in the organisation's name, or an account with a fiscal hosting platform

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