The government has named nine charities who will receive funding to help create more spaces at youth groups around the UK.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright has confirmed nine organisations will be benefitting from a multi-million pound fund, which is designed to create 6,250 new youth group places through the expansion of uniformed youth groups.
More than 1,000 adult volunteers will also have the opportunity to join local groups.
The money will go to organisations such as the Volunteer Police Cadets and the Boys’ Brigade, to provide opportunities for clubs to open up new units in disadvantaged areas or increase their recruitment drive for volunteers.
“Youth groups teach important life skills, build friendships and help expand young people’s horizons. Every child should have the chance to join one of these groups, no matter what background they are from or what area of the country,” Wright said.
“This funding is creating thousands of new places so that even more children can enjoy these valuable experiences.”
The nine projects awarded funding from the Uniformed Youth Fund are:
- Boys Brigade: £228,993 to expand existing brigades in deprived areas, as well as improve access for young people with special educational needs and those receiving mental health support.
- Fire Cadets: £141,199 to create a new unit in North East England with a focus on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), young carers and looked after children or care leavers, as well as developing new systems, learning resources and completing a strategic review process.
- Girls Brigade: £216,040 to develop a strategy for engaging disadvantaged young people, which will open four new units.
- Girlguiding: £718,458 to expand its volunteer recruitment service in the top 35% most deprived areas, as well as conducting research into social/emotional development, expanding volunteer training and improving the accessibility of its website.
- Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade: £292,500 to resource a dedicated recruitment team to create a targeted campaign in synagogues, community centres and schools and develop its programme materials, systems and communications.
- Scouts: £781,750 to provide start-up grants for 60 new units, develop an impact measurement tool for use with under-13’s and deliver enhanced programme materials, to be made accessible online.
- Sea Cadets: £420,937 to open 25 new Junior Cadets units in the top 35% most deprived areas and pilot extending the age range from 10-12 to 9-12, helping with the transition from primary to secondary school.
- St John Ambulance: £561,250 to recruit adult volunteers in targeted areas of England, and provide a new mentoring programme and induction for Youth Leaders.
- Volunteer Police Cadets £860,500 - which will offer start-up grants to 75 new units in top 35% most deprived areas, as well as delivering a national safeguarding framework and developing a youth forum initiative.
