Bath & North East Somerset council has established a Youth Bank to administer the Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) and the Youth Capital Fund, locally. Both funds are for the benefit of young people aged between 13 and 19 with the YOF aiming to support activities for young people and the YOF supporting small building projects or the purchase of specific equipment

Following the publication of Youth Matters in 2005, the Government announced details of these 2 funds ‘ which represent a real commitment from government to empower young people and to give them more choice and influence over provision and facilities in their area’.

Bath & North East Somerset has been allocated for the financial year 2006-07, £93837 for the YOF and £81161 for the YCF. The same amounts will be allocated for the financial year 2007-08. Each Local Authority is able to use up to £15000 each year to assist with the administration of both funds.

Initially the Youth Bank members will be drawn from the Democratic Action for B&NES Youth ( DAFBY) group but it is hoped that other young people aged 13 to 19 will join the group to make it as representative as possible of young people across the Authority. It is essential that young people are involved in all parts of the process: as decision makers, as applicants and as beneficiaries.

So if you are a young person aged 13-19 years and would like to be involved with this process please contact Hattie Ajderian on the details below.

The group meets every Thursday evening at Peasedown Youth Centre, transport can be provided so if you are interested give Hattie a ring/email.

For more information on the Youth Bank in Bath & North East Somerset telephone 01761-300304 (answer phone available) or e-mail youth_bank@bathnes.gov.uk

For more information about this government initiative visit: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/strategy/youthfund/