Please complete this section with your personal details and contact information. You must live in the North East of England to apply.  

If you are aged 16 or over, let us know if you have a UK bank account, as this is required for any bursary payments. 

Please provide details of the youth organisation or project where you completed The Key to Find Your Spark/KEY+ and the name of your Key Facilitator. 

If you have any accessibility, communication, or support requirements that you would like us to be aware of, please select Yes and provide details. This information will only be used to help us support you through the application process. 

This section must be completed by a parent, carer, or guardian if the applicant is under 16 years old (or up to 25 with SEND). 

Please provide your contact details, your relationship to the young person, and confirm whether you have a UK bank account. If a bursary is awarded, we will need to verify your bank account before any funds can be paid. 

The bursary is for young people aged 11–18 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND) who are living in low-income households and experiencing financial and/or circumstantial disadvantage. 

To apply, you must have completed The Key to Find Your Spark, meet the age requirements, and meet at least one eligible criteria. Priority will be given to applicants who meet the essential criteria, but we also welcome applications from those who meet any additional criteria.

Please select all statements that apply to you. We may ask for additional information to confirm your eligibility. 

If you have experienced other significant circumstances not covered by the listed criteria, please provide a brief explanation. 

If you have previously received a Find Your Spark bursary and would like to apply for further funding, you are welcome to submit an application. Please note that priority will be given to first-time applicants. 

If you have previously received a Find Your Spark Bursary, please tell us what the funding was used for, how much you received, and how it helped you explore or develop your interests, skills, or passions. 

This information helps us understand the impact of previous funding and how additional support could help you achieve your next goals. Please answer in your own words. 

Please complete this section in your own words. We recommend writing your answers in advance and then copying and pasting them into the application form if that is easier.

We would like to learn about your interests and passions, how your KEY+ experience has helped you develop them, and how the bursary would support your next steps. Tell us about the opportunities you would like to pursue, what you hope to achieve, and how the funding would make a difference. 

There is also an optional question where you can tell us about any challenges or barriers that may make it difficult for you to take part without financial support. This helps us better understand your circumstances and how the bursary could help. 

Please give a detailed breakdown of how the bursary funds will be used (up to £500). Include as much detail as possible, such as equipment, materials, course fees, travel costs, membership fees, lessons, accommodation, or other related expenses. If known, include estimated costs for each item and explain how each cost will support your passion, activity, or next steps. 

As funding is limited, not everyone can receive the full £500. We encourage you to apply for the amount you need, as asking for a smaller amount means we can support more young people.

Please tell us when you expect to use the bursary funds (approximate dates are fine).

Applications are reviewed approximately every 4-6 weeks by our Youth Advisory Board, so please take this into account when planning your proposed activity or purchase. We will let you know by email and inform the next steps if you are successful.