We are no longer accepting applications for the Kerrching – Youth Opportunity Fund as the deadline was 16th June 2017.
If you have applied before the deadline then we shall be in contact with you, as soon as the assessment process is complete, to let you know if your organisation has been successful or not.
If you have a query or require further information please contact 0161 770 3116.
What is Kerrching?
The Kerrching – Youth Opportunity Fund is a pot of money that is specifically for young people. The fund aims to provide opportunities for young people that will improve their lives and wellbeing. It is managed by young people from Oldham Youth Council who make the decisions about the allocation of funds.
Kerrching Commissioning
As part of the fund Oldham Youth Council commission services such as Kooth.com. Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being support service for children and young people available free at the point of use. An early intervention solution, Kooth helps to reduce waiting times for young people seeking help while removing the stigma associated with accessing mental health support.
Oldham Youth Council have also been able to commission theatre pieces such as Boy in the Black Box, concerned with mental health in particular self-harm, and First Fall of Snow which is based on new psychoactive substances (NPS or legal highs). These pieces were developed to tour around the schools of Oldham raising awareness of issues facing young people and offer guidance on were to get help.
Kerrching Grants Awards
Applications for these awards are only considered from organisations that are constituted, part of a statutory organisation or community groups, with an appropriate group bank account. The activity applied for must also be for the benefit of young people who live in Oldham.
Aims and Priorities of the Funding
The main aim of the funding is to increase and improve things to do and places to go for young people during their leisure time within Oldham. Successful applications have to demonstrate that they address at least one of the following priority outcomes for children and young people in Oldham:
- Enables to achieve aspirations and expectations
- Enables young people to be ready for work and lifelong learning
- Enables young people to lead healthier and more active lifestyles
- Enables young people to be involved in meaningful, enjoyable and positive activities
- Enables young people to participate in decision making processes that affect their lives
- Enables young people to be safer from harm
Successful applications also demonstrate they have a direct benefit to young people’s individual outcomes. In particular:
- Improved physical health
- Increased resilience and determination
- Increased confidence
- Increased creativity
- Increased communication skills
- Improved emotional well being
- Increased positive citizenship
- Increased planning and problem solving skills
Quality in Action
Since 2016 applicants from the voluntary, community or faith sector must hold the Quality in Action Award (previously the Children and Young People’s Alliance Award) via Oldham Together, or agree to achieve the award as a condition of the grant. The Quality in Action Award is Oldham’s locally recognised quality assurance framework for voluntary, community and faith organisations working with children and young people. This can be used by organisations to enable them to demonstrate that they meet a set of minimum standards when working with children and young people.
By working through the Quality in Action Award management file, organisations can develop their policies, procedures and ways of working in the following key areas:
- Organisational Governance
- Safeguarding
- Safer recruitment and staffing
- Health and Safety
- Equal Opportunities
- Promotion and Partnerships
- Finance
By achieving the Quality in Action Award, organisations meet the requirements for signing up to Oldham’s Local Safeguarding Children Board Compact. This is a requirement for any commissioning opportunities and many external grant funding opportunities. The Quality in Action Award is recognised locally by Oldham’s Better Start in Life Partnership and will enable organisations to demonstrate that they meet the minimum quality standard for working with children and young people.