The IdeasTap Ideas Fund Innovators programme is currently open to applications from artistic projects run by young people aged 16-25. The programme provides up to £1,000. The second 2013 deadline for receipt of applications is 4 April 2013. Visit: www.ideastap.com/Funding/our-funding 

The Department for Education has announced that it has extended the eligibility criteria for the Youth Contract, making an extra 15,500 young people eligible . It has extended it to a wider range of 16- and 17-year-olds who are NEET, including: young people who are or were in care; young people who have one GCSE at A*-C; and young offenders released from custody. The Department for Education saved £20 million during the competitive procurement process which allowed this extension to take place.

Youth in Action programme 2007-2013 has a range of deadlines for proposals in 2013. The first one is 1 February. It will fund five areas of work: 
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.
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.php

Digital Edge is a £2 million investment programme to fund new ideas for using digital technology to improve young people's economic and social participation. The next deadline for stage 1 applications is 1 May 2013. Visit: www.nominettrust.org.uk

The Canoe Foundation makes awards to groups to promote canoeing ventures for young and/or disabled people. They will fund equipment which can be used by a range of individuals, but won't fund revenue costs such as salaries, transport, or pool hire. The maximum grant awarded by them is usually £2,000, although in special cases this can be increased to £2,500. The next closing date for applications is 12:00 Monday 7 January 2013. Visit: www.canoefoundation.org.uk

Help the Homeless, a national Charity which aims to help homeless people throughout the United Kingdom to resume a normal life, is currently accepting applications from small and medium sized charities and voluntary organisations. Grants of up to £3,000 are available towards capital costs to support projects that assist disadvantaged individuals in their return to mainstream society, through residential or training facilities. Grants to larger charities may be considered if the project is suitable innovative and only possible for a larger organisation to develop it.

The Football Foundation has announced that it is accepting applications for funding through its “Grow the Game” programme. Through the programme, funding of up to £5,000 is available for projects that increase participation by both players and volunteers within the game. Applications are welcome from organisations that are 'not for profit' and planning to set up two new football teams over the next two years.

Applications are invited from cinemas, film archives, film festivals and other eligible organisations based in the English regions. Awards will range from £2,000 to £40,000. The fund is designed to support a range of dynamic and creative work in venues, festivals, archives and rural and community cinema schemes outside London. The Fund covers both audience projects, and also offers an organisational development strand, designed to strengthen and build capacity within cinemas, festivals and archives.

The Catalyst! project is run by Lancaster University to investigate how technology can be used to support social change in the community. Its first year projects are now reaching completion and on the 28th November they’re holding an event at the Midland Hotel in Morecambe to highlight what the projects have achieved and encourage discussion and networking for new projects. There are 2 types of projects – Sprints (more intensive) and Launchpads (lighter touch to test an idea) and both offer funding to help with costs associated with the project.

Communities across the country can bid for a share of £2 million of National Lottery investment to protect and improve their local sports playing fields. The latest round of Sport England's Protecting Playing Fields fund will help enhance local playing fields or create new sports pitches. Round 4 opened on 10 December 2012 and will close on 18 February 2013.

For more information go to www.sportengland.org