The purpose of the Disadvantage Subsidy Fund (DSF) is to ensure that children and young people disadvantaged by economic circumstances are financially supported to take part in extended schools activities, so that they benefit from the activities in the same way as those who can afford to pay. Funding is routed via schools who will need to work with Children & Young People and their families to establish how best to utilise it.

Guiding principles

• Access
  The funding should enable the target group to access activities from which they would otherwise be excluded due to their inability to pay.
  
  
• Additionality
  The funding should be used to make existing activities more accessible to the target group, and/or to commission new activities that better meet their needs.
  
  
• Involvement
  The target group and their parents/carers should be fully involved in choosing, designing and continuously improving a range of activities that are attractive and relevant. This should help to establish genuine control of the funding identified for them, in the same way as children and young people whose participation is not excluded by inability to pay.
  
  
• Open to all
  Any new activities created and delivered as part of the subsidy work should be available to all, and should be financially sustainable, including charging for activities where appropriate.
  
  
• Creativity and personalisation
  For many of the target group there are barriers to participation other than purely financial; especially in these cases, school and other staff should be creative in developing personalised approaches that support individuals.
  
  
• Sustainability and ongoing participation
  The funding arrangements for activities should be sustainable over time and be attractive to the target group to secure their ongoing participation.