Funding Opportunity for Charities Supporting Young People to Speak Up and Secure Their Rights 

The Henry Smith Charity has opened applications for its Shout! Fund, offering up to £240,000 (£60,000 per year) over four years to support independent, rights-based advocacy for young people aged 14–25 across the UK.

This grant fund is part of our Building Independence programme, which funds services that support young people through the transition into adulthood and is designed to strengthen the ability of young people to make informed decisions, express themselves, and secure their legal and social rights. It is particularly focused on reaching those who are care-experienced, LGBT+, or who have learning disabilities and/or are neurodivergent.

There is a stated interest in applications from organisations based in Northern Ireland, Wales, and rural areas, recognising that advocacy services in these regions are often limited or under-resourced.

Eligible applicants must be UK-based not-for-profit organisations with an annual income below £5 million. While services do not need to be explicitly labelled as “advocacy”, they must demonstrate a clear commitment to person-led, independent, and rights-focused support for young people.

Grants may be used flexibly to support core operational costs, including staff salaries, rent, utilities, safeguarding, and staff well-being. This flexibility is intended to provide stable, long-term funding for organisations already delivering advocacy or incorporating it into broader youth services.

It is expected that 20 grants will be made.

To initiate the application process, applicants must complete an eligibility test.

The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) is 20 August 2025. Organisations shortlisted from the EOI stage will be invited to submit a full application by 5 September 2025, with final funding decisions expected by the 28 November 2025.

Accessibility support grants are also available to help cover costs such as BSL interpreters, scribes, translation services, assistive technology, or support workers:

• £250 at the Expression of Interest stage
• £500 at the Full Application stage (if invited).

For more information click here.