In these financially uncertain times it is very difficult to find that extra little bit of money to help things along or try something different you perhaps couldn't normally afford to do. And that is why, particularly now, outside funding is so important, or even essential to your project or other future plans.

There are people and organisations out there who are willing to help you out with a nice little cash injection and below you will find three such examples.

Hilton in the Community Foundation

The Hilton Foundation is offering up to £50,000 a year to organisations that work with young people. During 2006 the foundation dished out a total of over £1.3m to various groups including charities and schools for activities and projects that fall into one of the three chosen areas of focus: education, health, and disaster relief and international funds.

Previously supported projects include the Palmer Junior School who received a sum of £2,740 to send 11 pupils on a school trip, and Red Gates School who were given £750 for specialist equipment at the school.

The closing date for applications is 16^th February 2010. For more information visit their website here: http://www.hilton-foundation.org.uk/home.htm

Young Film Fund (UK)

First Light Movies provides grants to projects that enable young people to participate in all aspects of filmmaking. Funding is available to youth centres, schools and community groups to young people aged between 5 and 18. Since its conception in 2001, First Light Movies have helped over 12,000 young people to act, write, direct, light, produce and shoot over 800 films.

The funding is available through three areas, allowing a diverse range of opportunities. The Studio Awards provides grants of up to £30, 000 for between two and four films of up to 10 minutes. The Script Awards provides grants of up to £3,000 for script writing projects that team young people with script professionals. The Pilot Awards provides grants of up to £5,000 for one short film of up to five minutes in duration.

The next closing date for all three programmes is the 19th January 2010, so if you are interested head over to their website here: http://www.firstlightonline.co.uk/funding/young-film-fund/

European Youth Foundation

The European Youth Foundation is an independent, international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to the positive development of children and young people throughout the world. To support its objectives the Foundation makes grants to international not-for-profit youth organisations and networks.

The types of activities supported include international youth meeting, the development of projects that benefits young people and help towards the administrative costs of eligible organisations and networks. In addition the Foundation also funds a range of pilot projects.

Last Call for Funding Sources

Here are three more great sources of funding that could give a little helping hand to your project or people involved with your project. But you will have to be quick, there isn't long left until the deadlines. So if these interest you click on the links provided in the articles and get applying.

The Learning Launchpad

The Learning Launchpad works to enable young people, regardless of their background, to achieve their potential. Delivered by the Youth Foundation, in partnership with Edge, The Learning Launchpad fund invest specifically in the youth and education sector and aim to promote practical learning opportunities for young people. They look for ideas that help young people achieve success not necessarily through academic routes, ideas that encourage learning-by-doing and that develop a young person's non-cognitive "soft" skills.

The deadline for applications is 24^th November, so to visit their site click here: http://www.learninglaunchpad.org/

Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity

The MSE Charity aims to educate and inform adults and children about consumer and debt issues. UK residents over the age of 18 can apply for a grant of up to £500 to help pay towards a recognised and approved course that will help improve their ability to budget and manage their finances. The deadline for applications for individual courses is 15^th December.

Grants of up to £5000 are also available for group projects such as self-help groups, workshops and other innovative schemes. The deadline for group applications is 30^th November.

For more information on both the individual and group applications, click here: http://www.sustainablefundingcymru.org.uk/newsletterlink.aspx?key=91~159&diablo.lang=eng&url=http://www.msecharity.com/index.html?pid=21

Youth in Action

Youth in Action is the programme the European Union has set up for young people. It aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future.

In order to achieve, the Youth in Action programme foresees five operational actions:

• Action 1 - Youth for Europe
• Action 2 - European Voluntary Service
• Action 3 - Youth in the World
• Action 4 - Youth Support Systems
• Action 5 - Support for European cooperation in the youth field

Application must be submitted by the 9^th December.  For more information contact the British Council Connect Youth team that manages Youth in Action in the UK: connectyouth.enquiries@britishcouncil.org