Charities to benefit from £88m government youth services investment

Charities are set to benefit from £88m worth of government investment to improve youth services and “reconnect young people with the world around them”.

The funding will be focused on boosting the work of youth clubs in areas of deprivation, supporting uniformed youth groups and investing in after school activities.

This includes the launch of the Better Youth Spaces programme, a £30.5m fund to improve youth club facilities in areas with the highest areas of child poverty. Small capital projects such as installing new gym equipment and climbing walks are set to be funded through the progamme.

Applications from charities for funding to refurbish youth clubs through this programme must be submitted by 31 August. Applications for other improvements have a deadline of 21 September. Areas with high child poverty rates being targeted through this fund include Blackburn with Darwen, Doncaster, Leicester, Sunderland and Tower Hamlets in London.

Another pot of money will be available through the Uniformed Youth Fund, which is offering £7.5m to uniformed youth groups and charities such as The Scouts, Guides and Volunteer Police Cadets to create thousands of extra places for young people in areas of unmet demand.

Volunteering boost

Another focus is boosting volunteering opportunities for young people in areas with high rates of anti-social behaviour through a further phase of the Million Hours Fund, a £19m volunteering fund the government is running with the National Lottery Community Fund.

Other funding includes £22.5m to provide extra curricular programmes in up to 400 schools and a £8m programme to help councils boost out of school activities.

“Today’s investment is about offering a better alternative: transformative, real-world opportunities that will have an impact in communities across the country, so young people can discover something new, find their spark and develop the confidence and life skills that no algorithm can teach,” said Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy added: “We know that strong local youth services are the bedrock of thriving communities that give our young people safe spaces to learn, grow and reach their potential.”