Accessibilty Fund
This page is about the ITMP Accessibility Fund. This fund is to help young people in the Taunton Deane, Wiveliscombe, Wellington, and the surrounding rural areas who may find access and attendance to youth work opportunities difficult due to familial, location, financial or transport barriers, or who may be in an unforeseen situation resulting in an impact on their engagement in youth work.
The fund aims to support young people to participate in our services – this includes:
- Getting involved in activities we offer
- Attending events and trips
- Covering residential fees
- Accessing holiday clubs
- Session attendance – usually 1 term of programme
- Be provided with transport to get to and from sessions
- Cover the cost of training and equipment which may be needed to access our targeted youth work and alternative education.
Who can apply for this money?
You should only apply for money from this fund if you:
- The young person is aged 8 to 19.
- They are currently participating in ITMP’s service or wish to participate.
- Are experiencing financial pressures or hardship and need funding to help you engage in ITMP’s services.
- Live or go to school in Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, or the surrounding villages – for a list of our communities see map below.
Applications must be made by an adult such as a parent, schoolteacher, or other professional applying on behalf on individual/s – i.e siblings.
We prioritise applications from young people who already attend our services or who are registered with our organisation, but anyone who meets the above criteria can apply. Please ask if you’re not sure.
What can I use this money for?
We’re interested in supporting you to cover the cost of things like:
- Taxis or public transport to get to and from ITMP’s sessions/activities.
- To pay for subs to attend ITMP sessions.
- To contribute or cover the costs for trips or residential stays that ITMP offer.
- Tools and clothing to help you undertake activities with ITMP.
- Course fees and other costs when studying certain accredited courses, via ITMP.
- Equipment or other costs associated with trips or expeditions, such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
We will not fund anything that is not related to ITMP or that was not specified in your application. A decision regarding your application will be made based on available funding and previous requests.
How much can I ask for?
There is no specific amount that you can ask for, however our aim is to support as many young people as possible. What you ask for should therefore:
- Be reasonable – it should clearly link to one of the above areas.
- Be proportionate – it should reflect what a young person ‘needs’ rather than just what they would ‘like’.
- Reflect the financial situation – you should ask for an amount that relates directly to the young persons’ personal circumstances. For example, if you already have some of the money you need, then you should only ask for the remainder.
- Have an impact on the young person – we prefer applications which demonstrate the impact or ongoing development of the young person involved.
How much is available?
We have a limited amount of money to give out, which usually totals around £500 a year. Most applications will be between £30-£50 each. If our pot depletes we will not accept any new applications.
When do I have to apply?
You can apply whenever you like. It can take up to 8 weeks from the application submission all the way through to payment, so you should plan in advance and submit your application well ahead of when you will need the money.
How likely is it that you’ll give me some money?
We will award as many grants as we can, however we won’t have enough money to support everyone who applies to us.
When we have lots of applications, we will consider an applicant’s financial situation as well as how closely the application fits our eligibility criteria. We prioritise young people and parents who have a close relationship with and who are regularly involved in our services.
Where does the money come from?
The money comes from community support and fundraising activities undertaken by ourselves and other young people. Donations towards this fund are gratefully received to support provide these opportunities.
Contact details
For more information on this fund or to make an application, please contact Nick Harvey on nick.harvey@inthemixproject.org.uk or call 01984 629510.