Young Hammersmith and Fulham Foundation

Young Hammersmith and Fulham Foundation (YHFF), established as a charity in February 2017, is a membership-based infrastructure organisation dedicated to empowering voluntary groups that deliver opportunities for children and young people aged 0-25 living, learning, working, or playing in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Born from the Young People’s Foundations movement and initially funded by John Lyon’s Charity and City Bridge Trust, YHFF fosters a collaborative ecosystem addressing local challenges in education, health, social inclusion, and wellbeing. Its core values—youth voice, equitable collaboration, local development, cultural celebration, and accountability—drive an inclusive approach that amplifies grassroots efforts through grants, organisational development, training, networking, and infrastructure support.

YHFF funds youth-focused initiatives like mental and physical health programmes, social mobility and skills development, community safety, education, arts, sports, employability, and leadership projects. It supports a range of activities via programmes such as Small Grants, Young Grantmakers (where 14-25-year-olds decide awards), and consortium funds like SYNC, prioritising memorable, impactful opportunities that respond to local needs and incorporate young people's input.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CIOs, or asset-locked CICs that join as free members first; they must serve Hammersmith and Fulham exclusively, with preference for small-to-medium groups (annual income under £2 million) demonstrating a track record in youth outcomes. Typical grants range from £5,000-£10,000 (up to £25,000 for collaborations), covering project delivery, core costs, and capacity building. Applications via online form during open windows—next main deadline 17 January 2025 (opens 1 December 2024), youth-led by 31 January 2025—with decisions in 4-6 weeks. YHFF excludes capital, medical, statutory, or endowment funding, national projects, and non-youth-focused orgs, standing out for its hyper-localism, mandatory membership, and direct youth grant-making panels that ensure decisions reflect lived experience.