Ready To Help is a British Red Cross programme that provides funding and support for young people aged 15-25 to design and deliver projects that help communities become more resilient.

Whether you are applying on your own, with a friend, or as part of a larger group, we want to hear about your ideas.

The programme is designed to help young people turn ideas into action. Through Ready To Help, young people can apply for funding and support to develop projects that respond to local needs and challenges.

Applications are reviewed by the Ready To Help Youth Steering Group, a group of young people who help decide which projects receive funding. Throughout the process they may also share ideas, feedback and suggestions to help applicants strengthen their projects.

Before You Start 
Before completing this application, we recommend reading:

• Ready To Help Applicant Information Pack
• Ready To Help Frequently Asked Questions

Successful applicants will also receive a copy of the Ready To Help Grant Agreement and Terms & Conditions before any funding is released.
This application consists of six short sections and will usually take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.

You do not need to complete this application in one sitting. There are no right or wrong answers. We simply want to understand your idea and the difference you hope it will make.

This application form is available in multiple languages via the language selector in the top right-hand corner. If a written application presents barriers for you, please contact [email protected] to discuss alternative ways to apply.

Don’t worry if you haven’t applied for funding before or aren’t completely sure about all of your answers. We are not expecting professional funding applications. We simply want to understand:

• Your idea
• The problem, challenge or opportunity you have identified
• Who your project will help
• How Ready To Help funding could help make it happen

*Please note that Ready To Help may close applications earlier if all available funding has been allocated. 

Final funding decisions and funding release are expected to take place by approximately May 2027. 

Important 
Please assume the people reviewing your application know nothing about your project, organisation or local area. For example, if you mention a youth club, school, community group, local event or issue, please explain what it is and why it is important. The Youth Steering Group reviews applications from across the UK and may not be familiar with the people, places and issues that matter to you. We look forward to reading your application. Please do not include any personal identifying information for anyone who has not given consent to be a part of this project. 

Any personal information you provide as part of the this application will be processed in line with the British Red Cross Privacy Notice. Please read our Privacy Notice before submitting your application: https://www.redcross.org.uk/privacy