North West Young Peoples Development Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £168,948 (2024/25)
• Success Rate: Data not publicly available
• Decision Time: Multi-stage process, timing not specified
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £15,000
• Grant Duration: 1-3 years
• Geographic Focus: North West England (Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside)

Contact Details

• Website: www.nwypdt.org.uk / nwypdt.org
• Email: grants@nwypdt.org / admin@nwypdt.org.uk
• Phone: 07970077573
• Charity Number: 229988

Overview

The North West Young Peoples Development Trust (NWYPDT) was established as a registered charity (229988) with the charitable object of “the care, treatment, education and training of young people.” The trust operates with an annual income of £228,002 and annual expenditure of £168,948 (financial year ending 31 March 2025), governed by 5 trustees who serve without remuneration. NWYPDT takes a distinctive approach to grant-making by deliberately avoiding specific funding programmes, believing that the grassroots organisations they support are best positioned to identify challenges and develop solutions for young people in their communities. The trust prioritises supporting smaller, under-resourced organisations across the North West of England that work with young people under 25 who face barriers to fulfilling their potential.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NWYPDT offers flexible grants ranging from £1,000 to £15,000, with funding periods of 1-3 years. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis through a multi-stage process beginning with an introductory letter and organisation details sheet.

Priority Areas

Target Population:

• Young people under the age of 25
• Those facing economic, educational, emotional, physical, and social barriers to fulfilling their potential
• Marginalised young people in overlooked and neglected areas

Organisational Priorities:

• Smaller, community-embedded organisations that know their local young people
• Groups rooted in areas where funding is hard to come by
• Organisations with a real understanding of the challenges facing the young people they support
• Work that encourages young people to develop positive social connections
• Projects that generate a “ripple effect” - wider impact beyond immediate beneficiaries
• Organisations that are highly responsive to community needs and encourage participation, inclusion, and community resilience

What NWYPDT Values:

• Projects, activities, and equipment that make a practical difference
• Work that encourages inclusion, integration, and independence
• Clear evidence that young people provide feedback on the work
• Organisations that help young people “drive change”

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Large national charities
• Statutory bodies
• Medical research
• Educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities)
• Uniformed youth groups
• One-off trips or events

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Governance and Leadership

NWYPDT is governed by 5 trustees who receive no remuneration or payments for their role. The trustees take an active role in grant-making, personally assessing every first-stage application and often conducting detailed telephone conversations, attending presentations, or making site visits during the second-stage assessment process. The charity has no trading subsidiaries and does not raise funds from the public. Specific trustee names and backgrounds are not publicly disclosed on their website but can be accessed through the Charity Commission register.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

NWYPDT operates a two-stage application process on a rolling basis:

Stage 1: Initial Application

1. Submit an introductory letter via email to grants@nwypdt.org
2. Complete and return the NWYPDT Organisation Details Sheet (downloadable from website)
3. Answer 11 specific questions about your organisation and the work you do within the North West
4. Provide copy of most recent annual accounts
5. If you produce annual reports, include the most recent one
6. Submit bank account confirmation signed by the Chair, Vice Chair, or Treasurer
7. Include your organisation's safeguarding policy

Stage 2: Detailed Assessment (if required)

• Detailed telephone conversation with trustees
• Presentation to trustees, or
• Site visit to your organisation

Eligibility

NWYPDT can make grants to organisations operating under various legal structures:

• Registered charities
• Unincorporated associations
• Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Industrial and Provident Societies

Organisations do not have to be registered charities, but grants must be used for charitable purposes.

Decision Timeline

Timelines are not publicly specified. Every first-stage application is carefully assessed by the trustees, with second-stage assessments conducted when required. Applicants should plan for a multi-stage process but specific timeframes from submission to decision are not disclosed.

Success Rates

NWYPDT receives a high volume of applications and acknowledges that due to the competitive nature of their funding, they cannot provide individual feedback on unsuccessful applications. The trust states that "in most cases there is nothing 'wrong' with an application they turn down" - decisions often come down to comparative strength against other applications or internal balance considerations.

Reapplication Policy

Each request for a further grant after the agreed funding period will be reviewed. The policy on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated on their website. Applicants should contact grants@nwypdt.org for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Demonstrate Marginalisation Focus: NWYPDT sometimes chooses applications because they demonstrate a stronger focus on marginalisation. Clearly articulate how your work affects the lives of marginalised young people in a positive way.

Show Wider Impact: Applications that demonstrate a “ripple effect” - impact beyond the immediate beneficiaries - are particularly valued. Explain how your work benefits the wider community.

Evidence of Community Understanding: The trust looks for organisations with “a real understanding of the challenges facing the young people they support, and a clear sense of the difference they seek to make through their work.”

Small Organisation Advantage: Being smaller and under-resourced is not a disadvantage - quite the opposite. The trustees believe smaller organisations are “particularly well-placed to deliver positive change because they know the young people in their communities and can be highly responsive to need.”

Geographic Distribution: Be aware that NWYPDT considers whether a disproportionate amount of funding is going to a particular part of the North West. They aim to maintain balance across the region.

Type of Work Balance: The trust also considers whether they are funding too much of a certain type of work, seeking to maintain diversity in their grant portfolio.

Clarity on Practical Difference: “Tell us about the practical difference our funding would make to the young people you work with.” Be specific and concrete about outcomes.

Young People's Voice: Demonstrate how young people provide feedback on your work and influence its direction.

Safeguarding and Financial Management: Be prepared to show robust processes for both safeguarding young people and managing finances responsibly.

Common Reasons for Rejection

According to NWYPDT's own guidance:

• Other applications seem stronger in focus on marginalisation
• Other applications demonstrate greater wider impact
• Too much funding already allocated to a particular type of work
• Disproportionate funding already going to a particular part of the North West
• The trust emphasises: "In most cases there is nothing 'wrong' with an application they turn down"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Size is an advantage: Don't be deterred by being small or under-resourced - NWYPDT specifically values smaller, community-embedded organisations
• Geography matters: Highlight your location within the North West and the overlooked nature of your area if applicable
• Flexibility in approach: NWYPDT doesn't have specific programmes - focus on what your community needs rather than trying to fit a prescribed agenda
• Multi-year thinking: Grants can run 1-3 years, so consider applying for longer-term support if appropriate
• Demonstrate ripple effects: Show how your work benefits not just the direct participants but the wider community
• Legal structure flexibility: You don't need to be a registered charity - CICs, unincorporated associations, and other structures are eligible
• Marginalisation is key: The clearer your focus on marginalised young people, the stronger your application
• No feedback on rejections: Due to high volume, unsuccessful applicants don't receive individual feedback, so ensure your application is as strong as possible first time

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Young Hammersmith and Fulham Foundation
• The Blagrave Trust
• The Arete Foundation
• Young Westminster Foundation
• Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
• The Portishead Nautical Trust
• The Grantham Yorke Trust
• THE BALLINGER CHARITABLE TRUST
• Hays Travel Foundation
• Young K&C

References

1. NWYPDT Official Website. Available at: https://nwypdt.org/ []

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales. “Charity overview, NORTH WEST YOUNG PEOPLES DEVELOPMENT TRUST - 229988.” Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=229988&subid=0 []

1. NWYPDT Organisation Details Sheet and Application Guidance. Available via: grants@nwypdt.org [Referenced January 2026]