ylag

Highland YLAG Youth Impact Fund

Application Guidance

Thank you for your interest in applying to Highland YLAG's inaugural Youth Impact Fund. In this page you'll find information about the application process, including:

  • Fund Overview
  • Scoring Criteria
  • Grant Offer Letters
  • Reporting & Evaluation

 

Who are Highland Youth Local Action Group?

We are a group of 16-30 year olds from across Highland who are passionate about making our region a better place for young people to live, study and work in. Highland Youth Local Action Group (YLAG) part of a national network of YLAGs, which are funded by Community-Led Local Development and connected to a Senior Local Action Group (LAG). In Highland, we work closely with the Highland Strategic LAG. Through the Youth Impact Fund we hope to support action in Highland which aligns to our key priorities of connection, fulfillment, development and change. We are keen to expand our perspectives and welcome more members to join, so you can express interest in joining yourself or on a young person’s behalf in the application form or find about more about joining the YLAG on our website.

 

Fund Overview

Highland YLAG is pleased to offer its Youth Impact Fund to young people aged 16-30 and organizations which support young people to lead projects which enable young people to thrive and access opportunities in Highland.

We offer young people up to £500 and organisations up to £2,000 to pursue activities which align to our strategic priorities. These were co-created by the members of Highland YLAG and express what we’d like to see be developed across Highland:

 

Priority

Scope

Connection

Initiatives which strengthen bonds by bringing young people together and building friendships to establish a sense of belonging in our communities.

Fulfilment

Projects that help young people explore their passions, build confidence, and experience a sense of purpose or achievement within their lives.

Development

Activities that support young people to learn new skills, grow as individuals and take steps towards their future goals.

Change

Ideas that empower young people to challenge inequalities, raise their voices, and create positive change in their schools, communities or beyond.

 

Key Dates:

  • Fund opens: 1st April 2026
  • Fund closes:  15th May 2026 at 4pm
  • YLAG scoring & allocation period: 15th – 29th May 2026
  • Funding panel: 1st – 5th June 2026
  • Funding decisions communicated: 8th June 2026
  • Interim project check point: 31st October 2026
  • Project activity complete: 31st January 2027
  • Final report due: 28th February 2027

Projects funded must be able to complete and report on the impact of their project by February 2027. We will check in for a project update in October 2026.

For our first funding round, we’ve been given a total funding pot of £25,000 to allocate funding awards. We’d be thrilled to be able to fund every project which supports our priorities but that may not be possible.

 

Funding Criteria

  1. Funding is available up to a maximum of £2,000 for organisations and £500 for young people aged 16-30.
  2. Projects must be based within the Highland CLLD boundary area. This area is the rural setting of the Highland Council region, excluding projects focusing on communities in Inverness City or Badenoch & Strathspey.
  3. The funding is intended to be for development of a project focuses on young people and aligns with one of our strategic priorities: fulfilment, development, change, connection.
  4. Organisations must provide a Fair Work First Statement.
  5. Organisational applicants should have its own registered bank account. Individual applicants must hold a bank account in their own name.
  6. It is essential that Highland YLAG receives adequate reporting and evidence of spend of the grant.
  7. Your project must complete by January 31st 2027 with a check in due 31st October 2026 and full report provided by the 28th February 2027.

 

Scoring Criteria

All applicants of the same type will be assessed on the same criteria using a scoring system. The areas of focus will be as follows:

Strategic Priority

Does the project demonstrate to achieve the objectives of one or more of the YLAG’s strategic themes of fulfilment, development, change or connection?

Network

Does the project enable community, networks and interactions to be built between young people?

Inclusion

Does the project demonstrate an inclusive approach to engage under-represented groups?

Legacy

Will the project will create a legacy and deliver benefits beyond the funding period?

Impact

How far will the project impact young people’s personal and professional development?

Wider Impact

How many young people will directly benefit from project?

Sustainability

Does the project demonstrate of environmental responsibility and minimise negative impacts on the climate?

Geographic Connection

To what extent to is the young person or project connected to Highland?

 

 

Grant Offer Letters

All applications will be assessed by the YLAG and discussed at a Funding Panel. The grant allocation outcomes will be communicated to applicants by 8th June 2026.

Successful applicants will receive a Grant Offer Letter outlining the funded project, grant allocation and conditions of the grant. A bank details form will be distributed to collect payment details. Within 1 week of receiving the Grant Offer Letter, it must be signed and returned, and the bank details form submitted.

Those who were not successful will receive feedback via email.

 

Reporting & Evaluation

Successful applicants must provide progress updates and full reporting on their project.

In October 2026 we’ll check in to understand how your project is going, help resolve any challenges and understand the next steps to complete your activities.

Upon project completion by 31st January, applicants must provide full reporting by 28th February 2026. This gives you the opportunity to reflect on what went well, what could be improved and the impact your project had. To make reporting easier, you can track your project:

  • Your expenditure
  • Number of young people engaged
  • Experiences & skills young people have gained
  • Challenges faced
  • Quotes & pictures

Highland YLAG will use your reporting to compile an overall report on the impact that the Youth Impact Fund had in Highland. They may also share your project outcomes through digital communications and different platforms to celebrate what has been achieved.