New funding launched for young people to bring their ideas for activities next summer to life as part of our Great Childhoods Ambition

Message from Barnsley CVS 

This week, we’re excited to launch an exciting opportunity as part of the Great Childhoods Ambition programme – Ambition Arena: Your Pitch, Your Summer. 

As part of our commitment to improving the lives and futures of children and young people in Barnsley, this unique project will place young people in the driving seat, enabling them to create the activities we invest in next summer. 

Young people aged eight to 18 across Barnsley can bid for up to £3,000 of funding to run activities and events for summer 2026, developing their entrepreneurial skills throughout the process. 

Working with a local voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE) organisation, young people will be supported to bring their ideas to life, from pitching for the funding to running their activities. If they’re not currently engaged with a VCSE organisation, we can pair them up with one. 

Applications are now open for young people to share their big ideas with us, which must align with one of the five priorities of the Great Childhoods Ambition:  

Any young person looking to apply to be part of our Ambition Arena has until Monday 1 December to submit an expression of interest form. These will then be assessed, with the ten best applications going through to the next round in the new year. 

This next round, our Ambition Arena event, will consist of a panel of local professionals and businesspeople, who will decide who should be awarded the funding. 

Taking place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 February 2026, the judges on our ‘Dragons’ Den’ style panel will be there to support the young people as they pitch their ideas. Family and friends will also be invited to watch the pitches and share in the community pride. 

Frances Elliot, Fund Manager at Barnsley CVS, said: “This is a great opportunity for children and young people to have their say about the activities they would like for summer 2026. 

“We hope they will get a lot out of the experience of working together to plan fun activities and make them happen.” 

Councillor Ashley Peace, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services at Barnsley Council, said: “We’re excited to partner with Barnsley CVS to launch our Ambition Arena as part of our Great Childhoods Ambition programme, allowing young people across our borough to shape the summer they want to see for next year. 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to work with our brilliant voluntary and community sector, pitch to local entrepreneurs and develop skills as they bring their ideas to life. 

“This unique project demonstrates our commitment to working with young people to co-produce community projects they want to see. I would encourage any young person with big ideas about what summer 2026 in Barnsley could look like to apply. We can’t wait to see what ideas you’ll come up with.”