Universal youth work offer
Dear partners,
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council is committed to providing an inclusive, universal offer for all young people, ensuring there are places to go and things to do in every ward across the borough. This forms an important part of our wider Family Hubs Rotherham and Family Help offer.
To support this commitment, the Leader of the Council has allocated an additional £100,000 to strengthen youth provision for children and young people in Rotherham.
We are pleased to confirm that the Universal Youth Work additional commissioning fund is now open for applications, to support delivery from September 2026 to March 2027. Eligible organisations may apply for up to £10,000 per project.
Priority will be given to organisations that:
• Are new to delivering Universal Youth Work
• Support underrepresented communities
• Deliver outreach provision to underrepresented communities
The closing date for applications is 1 June 2026.
Specification requirements
Successful services will contribute to the following outcomes:
• Expanding and developing the universal youth offer across Rotherham by providing places to go and things to do
• Promoting the personal, educational, creative, and social development of young people
• Tackling health inequalities through integrated partnership working
• Increasing engagement in inclusive, universal provision that raises aspirations and supports development
• Delivering activities that build confidence and self esteem
• Offering a range of activities including arts, sport, music, craft, healthy lifestyles, education, personal responsibility, safety, respect for others, and accredited courses or projects
• Reducing health inequalities and promoting positive physical and mental health
• Supporting young people to make safe and healthy choices, with appropriate signposting to further support where required
• Helping young people feel safe in their communities and develop positive relationships
• Promoting equality of access and taking positive action to ensure vulnerable young people are not disadvantaged
• Publishing a clear programme of activities and demonstrating collaboration with sector partners and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Programme aims
The programme aims to ensure that children and young people who attend activities and clubs:
• Have access to curriculum based personal, social, and emotional development opportunities
• Are actively involved in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of sessions
• Take part in engaging, enriching, and accredited activities
• Feel safe and connected, and are not socially isolated
• Are supported to identify their own learning opportunities
• Develop greater knowledge and awareness of their own needs
• Receive accreditation or certificates of achievement to recognise success and progression
Payment arrangements
If successful, funding will be released as follows:
• 70% on receipt of a signed grant agreement
• 20% on receipt of Quarter 3 monitoring data
• 10% on receipt of the final financial monitoring return (March 2027)
For more information on how to apply please email UniversalYouthWork@rotherham.gov.uk
Communities in Rotherham are keen to ensure that there are sufficient places to go and things to do for young people. There are also concerns about anti-social behaviour and child criminal exploitation in particular parts of the borough.
We want to fund an expansion of the existing youth offer for young people and create provision where there is currently little or no support for young people. The offer will be focused on the needs of adolescence, but ensure whole family working, within a community development approach. would respond to localised issues as well as developing a localised offer of safe places to go and stimulating, things to do.
There is a maximum of £200,000 in total for the projects across the borough, this will be divided into North, Central and South localities based on need and identified gaps in provision.
Funding is open to constituted voluntary groups, charities, private sector organisations, schools, faith groups who can demonstrate they can meet the minimum standards of a high-quality offer for young people.
