Introduction

Pilot activity grants refer to projects that

  • address young people’s needs or challenges at a local level.
  • contribute to the priorities of the youth sector of the Council of Europe, in particular to the 2025 focus themes
  • are based on innovation, either in terms of methodology for the target group and/or the organisation and the context, or on replication of good practice
  • have a clear youth dimension and contribute to youth participation
  • have a clear local impact
  • follow the basic principles of youth work, non-formal education and intercultural dialogue
  • contribute to social cohesion, by combating exclusion and the prevention of phenomena specifically affecting young people
  • help young people, particularly disadvantaged young people, to find ways of meeting both the challenges facing them and their own aspirations. 

Pilot activities are flexible in their format and may utilise a range of approaches, such as youth meetings, capacity building sessions, awareness raising actions, meetings with experts, local workshops, local actions, visits, campaigns, workshops in schools, festivals etc.  

The maximum duration of a pilot activity project can be up to one year. The project must start at least 3 months after the deadline. 

Focus themes 2025

The following focus themes for pilot activity grants were approved by Joint Council on Youth within the youth sector priorities:

  1. Human rights education with and by young people

This includes the possibility to apply to the EYF for a pilot activity grants for:

  1. initiatives that support the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education and the role of youth NGOs in its implementation
  2. initiatives that support young people’s democratic engagement in the revitalisation of democracy (cfr. Reykjavík Declaration)
  3. initiatives that support climate action and awareness on the right to a healthy environment, following the CM Recommendation (2024)6 on young people and climate action adopted on 23 October 2024.  
  1. Peacebuilding, conflict transformation and intercultural dialogue

This includes the possibility to apply to the EYF for a pilot activity grants for:

  1. initiatives that associate young people and their organisations with peacebuilding and intercultural dialogue 
  2. initiatives that emerge from flagship activities of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, such as the Youth Peace Camp
  3. initiatives strengthening young people’s agency and capacities to prevent violence, transform conflict and to build a culture of peace and human rights.

 Grant amount

The maximum grant for a Pilot Activity is €15 000. The EYF can cover the all real costs of the activity up to this amount. The EYF will initiate the payment of the first instalment – 80% of the grant awarded – approximately 4 weeks before the start of your activity. However, it can take up to 4 weeks until the money arrives into your bank account. The remaining 20% will be paid upon receipt and approval of the final report (check the Reporting page).

 What costs are covered by the grant? Budget and financial management

Check the page on budget and financial management for specific information on this. 

 Who can apply?

Only organisations registered with the EYF as one of the following categories can apply for this grant: 

If an interested organisation is not yet registered with the EYF, please register as soon as possible. More information can be found here.

 When to apply?

The deadlines for EYF supported pilot activities starting in 2025 are:

1 December 2024

1 February 2025

15 May 2025

1 September 2025. 

 How to apply?

Every NGO interested in applying to the European Youth Foundation has to be registered with us (see additional information on Registration) and go through the application process.

Word versions of the application form for pilot activities can be found here. The applications can only be submitted by organisations registered with the EYF using the EYF online granting system, https://fej.coe.int/.

 

 Common characteristics of all EYF-supported projects and examples of supported projects

Learn more about the characteristics of EYF-funded projects and check examples of projects supported at the dedicated page.