Empowering Local Project

Empowering Local commissioned this research to increase understanding of how funders can best support place-based approaches to funding youth provision.

Between May – December 2022, YMCA George Williams College supported Empowering Local as a research partner to explore the role of funders in youth place-based funding, in order to increase understanding of how funders can best support place-based approaches to funding youth provision.

This research has 2 core areas of focus:

Impact: What is known about the role of funding/ funders in place-based approaches/initiatives, and how this contributes to positive change.

Process: What are the mechanisms and conditions (e.g., readiness) that make place-based funding effective? Focusing on embedding youth voice in decision-making and engagement with local, regional and national organisations.

These reports present the findings of our research and provides nine recommendations, grounded in evidence, for funders and small trusts seeking to develop their approaches to place-based funding in the youth sector.