Keyfund was introduced to Cumbria in 2002, and is a youth work programme that enables young people to develop a range of life skills, whilst planning and undertaking a project of their choice.  The projects are derived from young people’s ideas, and can include days out, art projects, residential’s, putting on workshops etc, the options are endless!

Keyfund operates a principle of incremental learning, and therefore has four levels which young people, aged between 11 and 25yrs, can progress through with the support of their facilitator.  Each of these levels has a funding opportunity attached to it, which enables young people to carry out their planned activity:

Level 1 = £250;
Level 2 = £500;
Level 3 = £1000;
Level 4 = £2000.  

At levels 3 and 4, the young people’s projects have to include some ‘community benefit’.

Young Cumbria co-ordinate this quality youth work programme across Cumbria, working in partnership with the Keyfund Federation based in Newcastle.  The programme is accessed by a wide range of organisations and professionals working with young people, from Youth Groups, Connexions, Schools, Scouts, Young Carers Groups, Police and so on.

Keyfund’s ethos describes the key principles, which reside at the heart of all its work:

• Young People take the lead - organic ideas, space to explore their ideas and the learning
• Keyfund is a learning process 
• Keyfund is open to every young person 
• Keyfund does all it can to support the facilitators and their networks 
• The community are involved wherever possible 
• We are raising aspirations by investing in young people