The Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) Fund supports organisations to provide positive activities and experiences for children and young people, particularly those who need more support to become physically active. Active Kent & Medway will prioritise projects for ‘targeted groups’ e.g., Low Socio-Economic groups, children and young people (CYP) with long term health conditions or a disability, Girls and Culturally Diverse Communities.
Please note: Applications to access the PAYP funding will be invited by Active Kent & Medway based on local need as well as exploring innovative ways to increase physical activity of the least active young people. Therefore, the PAYP Fund is not an open application process so if you would like to express an interest in this fund, please complete our ‘Great Ideas’ form.
Criteria
The overall aim for any project must be to create positive sport and physical activity experiences to help CYP change their behaviour and build regular active habits.
Projects must meet the following requirements:
- The targeted CYP must be involved in co-producing the activities/project (e.g., through taster sessions, focus groups, surveys etc.)
- Activities must be inclusive and delivered by an appropriately skilled workforce.
- Appropriate safeguarding processes must be in place. Please visit our Safeguarding Agreement webpage
- Opportunities identified for CYP to continue being active when the project or funding ends.
- Monitoring and evaluation is carried out to understand the impact on CYP.
Funded projects must aim to increase opportunities for our identified target groups and fit into at least one of the following categories:
- Reduce inactivity in targeted groups of inequality (e.g., identified by data sources such as Indices of Multiple Deprivation Index, Free School Meals, Culturally Diverse Communities, Special Education Needs and Disabilities).
- Youth projects in community settings which encourage CYP to take a lead in creating opportunities to be active.
- Activities that specifically promote mental wellbeing.
- Facilitate new, and enhance existing, activities for CYP and their families.
- Develop extra-curricular projects during transition from primary to secondary school by providing positive experiences which lead to ongoing participation in sport and physical activity.
What we will fund
Applications will be invited from not-for-profit organisations across Kent and Medway to help deliver extracurricular activities, including:
- Community sports clubs
- Community interest companies
- Charities
- Local authorities
- Schools, and colleges
We anticipate funding applications to deliver weekly sessions would be for between £500 – £1000, however in exceptional circumstances organisations can apply for up to £2000 and can be spent on the following:
- Coaching fees (up to £40 per hour, and no more than the coach’s normal hourly rate)
- Workforce development qualifications or awards (the cost of the course up to level 2 or equivalent only)
- Equipment
- Marketing
- Memberships/Bursaries
- Facility hire (up to £35 p/h, not encouraged for ‘after school club’ activity on school sites)
What we will not fund
- Activity sessions delivered during curriculum time
- Activity that can be funded by the PE and Sport Premium
- The creation of new football teams, as The Football Foundation is currently offering funding towards this for Kent FA affiliated clubs
- Replacement equipment (Please note: financial provisions should be in place to replace damaged / obsolete equipment)
- Marketing and promotion costs
- Repeat annual events
- Team/club kit
- Other CPD courses (such as DBS Checks, Safeguarding and First Aid courses)
- Costs towards fixed/permanent structures (please see the KCC Capital Grant Scheme for Sport)
- Retrospective costs
Delivering Sessions
If delivering sessions as part of your project, you will need to confirm that lead deliverers/coaches are appropriately qualified and insured to lead activities. Prior to receiving funding, the lead organisation will need to demonstrate all organisations involved meet the criteria within our online Safeguarding Agreement.
Funded sessions should run weekly, and for a minimum of 12 and maximum of 48 weeks (not applicable to holiday or transition activities). Sessions should be situated at safe venues that targeted groups of young people feel (or have the potential to feel) comfortable attending.
Timescales
This funding being awarded for the period from 1st April 2025- 31st March 2026 (projects can be delivered beyond March 2026). Following a submission, the application will be assessed internally by Active Kent & Medway. Where the application does not meet the criteria based on assessment then the project might be amended through a conditional offer, the applicant may be invited to re-submit, or the application may be declined.
If you have questions or require any further information on the criteria and eligibility, please contact Daniel Bromley:
by email: daniel.bromley@kent.gov.uk
by phone: 03000 417927