The Julia Rausing Trust has announced a £3 million grant to the UK Youth Fund, helping to provide small youth work and outdoor learning organisations across the UK with long-term, unrestricted funding.

Building on £10 million already committed by Pears Foundation, the new grant brings the total value of the UK Youth Fund to £13 million.

Through the Fund, small organisations working with young people across the UK receive unrestricted, multi-year grants, giving them greater flexibility and security to respond to the needs of the young people and communities they serve.

For many community-based youth organisations, this type of support can be particularly valuable. These organisations provide safe spaces, trusted relationships and access to opportunities, advice and guidance, while often operating with limited fundraising capacity. Long-term, flexible funding can help them retain experienced staff, respond to rising demand and plan with greater confidence.

The grant builds on a longstanding relationship between The Julia Rausing Trust and UK Youth and reflects the Trust’s wider commitment to supporting young people and strengthening the organisations that help them thrive.

Simon Fourmy, Chief Executive of The Julia Rausing Trust, said: “Small youth organisations play an invaluable role in communities across the UK, providing opportunities, guidance, and support to young people at important stages in their lives. Strengthening these organisations and giving them greater stability is vital to ensuring that support can continue.

“We are very pleased to commit £3 million to the UK Youth Fund, building on Pears Foundation’s significant support. We believe strongly in the value of funders working together, combining resources and experience around shared goals to achieve greater impact.”

Sir Trevor Pears CMG, Chair, Pears Foundation, said: “When we committed £10 million to the UK Youth Fund, our ambition was not only to support hundreds of outstanding youth organisations, but to make the case for a different way of funding them. We’re delighted to be working with The Julia Rausing Trust, whose generous £3 million commitment means that many more small youth organisations can benefit from the long-term, flexible support they need.

“Having visited many youth clubs over the years, I’m always struck by the staff and volunteers who build trusted relationships with young people and create places where they feel safe and supported. They understand their organisations and communities better than anyone, and we should trust them to decide how funding can be used most effectively.

“We hope this fund will demonstrate what unrestricted, multi-year funding can achieve, and help change the way small youth organisations are valued, trusted and supported.”

7th September 2026