Providing grants of between £3,000 and £25,000, the Young Roots Programme aims to involve 13-25 year-olds in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement. Young Roots projects stem directly from young peoples' interests and ideas, harnessing their creativity and energy and helping them work with others in their local community.

In April 2008 we introduced new application materials and guidance for this programme. During this transitional year we will start assessing applications under this new programme on 1 September 2008 and will give our first decisions within 10 weeks of your application.

To receive a Young Roots grant, your project must relate to the varied heritage of the UK and:

• provide new opportunities for a wider range of young people aged 13 to 25 to learn about their own and others’ heritage;
• allow young people to lead and take part in creative and engaging activities;
• develop partnerships between youth organisations and heritage organisations; and
• create opportunities to celebrate young people’s achievements in the project and share their learning with the wider community.

Your project must also create either:

• opportunities for young people to volunteer in heritage; or
• new opportunities for young people to gain skills in identifying, recording, interpreting or caring for heritage.

To apply for this grant, please follow these steps: 

STEP 1 - Before you apply
Prior to applying for a grant please read through the following information:

Is it right for you?
• Find out if your project is suited to this grant
  
  Frequently asked questions
• Get answers to FAQs about this grant
  
  Case studies
• Review projects that have been awarded grants
  
  Heritage & young people
• Learn how young people might be more actively involved in finding out about their heritage and sharing it with others and read our Model of Practice document.

STEP 2 - Pre-application advice

Submit a pre-application form online
• If you believe that your project meets the criteria for this grant, please complete an online pre-application form online to receive further help on applying for a grant. We strongly recommend that you read the application introduction and helpnotes before sending in a preapplication enquiry.

• Begin the online application process here.
• If you have any trouble accessing the online application form, please contact us.

You can also download PDF versions of the application forms and guidance in the boxes on the right.