Youth Matters Fund: clarification questions
Updated 13 August 2026
Applies to England
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Clarification questions and answers
These are answers to clarification questions posed by people and organisations interested聽 in knowing more about the Youth Matters Fund delivery partner competition.
Regarding the eligibility criteria - is it the consortium as a whole that needs to meet them rather than just the lead delivery partner i.e. if a single organisation doesn鈥檛 have a physical geographical presence in all 9 regions but part of the consortium would be an organisation that does. Would this fulfil the eligibility?
Yes, as long as you can evidence that you have the capability in the bid.
The timelines for phase 1 are quite short particularly in order to enable a full participatory approach with youth engagement into the design and to ensure that this doesn鈥檛 risk being tokenistic. Is it possible for some of the design phase to be carried out in phase 2 i.e. from April 2027?
These timelines are intended to be illustrative and based on previous experience. We are open to alternative proposals that still meet the central aim of empowering young people.聽聽
Can an organisation be part of two consortiums? i.e. could we submit one as a lead partner and also be part of another consortium as a junior member?
Yes
Is there any information that the incumbents have access to that could be shared?
This is a completely new standalone programme with no incumbent. If you are referring to YIF, relevant documentation can be found in Section 3 of the YMF guidance document. However, if any bidder requests further management information on YIF that we have available and is not commercially sensitive we will endeavour to provide it promptly and publish on this page.聽
You note in the guidance document that 鈥淔inal retention payments released (12 months after project spend period ends) by Dec 2030鈥�. Can DCMS clarify what is meant by this, for example are they expecting that the lead organisations, and the onward grant holders cover all costs in advance and may only receive their final payment by Dec 2030? If so, what percentage of payment is expected to be held back until this date?
It is common practice in construction projects for the client to hold back a small portion of the final cost for a year after practical completion to cover defects and snagging. We would expect the grant holder to administer this process as part of the final closure of the Fund.聽 For clarity, this could be up to 12 months after 31/12/2029, which is when we are assuming the final practical completion certificates will be granted for any construction projects.
The tender mentions the grant funding includes 鈥減reparatory work in the 2026/27 Financial Year鈥�, however this isn鈥檛 included in the multi-year breakdown (section 5.1). Could you please clarify if there is funding for the 26/27 year?
Up to 拢1 million RDEL Programme will be available in 26/27 to fund mobilisation costs, the full amount of which being dependent on when mobilisation starts.
To confirm, bids are made for the full fund amounts inclusive of contingency costs?
Yes that is the case
Could you clarify whether independent third-party evaluators and Funder鈥檚 Agent are excluded from the financial breakdown?
We will let those as separate contracts so those costs are not included in the figures