The National Park Authority’s long-running grant scheme supporting community initiatives is being tweaked to favour projects which benefit younger people.
One-fifth of the £150,000 Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) annual budget has been ringfenced for applications from people under 30 years of age, or from anyone where the emphasis of their project is on young people.
An example of the sort of grant application that will be supported is the one brought in 2022 by trustees of the former army drill hall in Settle, now owned by the Scouts.
The SDF is supporting construction of a small extension of the Grade II listed building, to provide covered, lift access to the drill hall. At the moment access to the room is from an external stone staircase, which has caused difficulties for some children and adult youth leaders.
Presently contractors are laying the foundations for the extension.
Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Derek Twine, said: “The Sustainable Development Fund has a history of supporting projects that benefit younger people, but this tweak to the fund will allow us to make a concerted push for more of these projects to come forward.
“The drill hall in Settle, right on the edge of the National Park, is a good case study to point to because the work there will benefit so many young people. About 60 Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, plus an Explorer Section for 14-18 year old, meet in the hall, and there are weekly archery and dancing classes for people of all ages.”
Chair of trustees of the drill hall, Cherry Flitcroft, said: “The SDF grant application process was straightforward. We came with a small ask and were told the SDF could support even more of what we were doing.
“The drill hall building is unique but we are not precious about it. We have a pitch pine sprung floor, but if children spill something or hit something with a ball it doesn’t matter. This is for kids to come and be a bit rough and tumble, and let rip and have great games and get used to being with other children and respecting people.”
Drill hall trustee Paul Cochrane added: “It’s a rocky old site at Castleberg, but it’s going to be done and it will be brilliant. We will be providing for all sorts of youth groups and other groups.”
The change to the SDF is intended to encourage applications from young people themselves or from any organisation, such as schools or charities, which are engaged in promoting activities and initiatives that benefit younger people. To be clear, however, the fund remains open to a full range of projects, benefitting all ages.
Further information can be found on the SDF webpage.
