More access to youth clubs for young people

Funding from the Youth Investment Fund is set to be spent on 140 new or refurbished youth centres.

The £90 million is expected to support nearly 20,000 more young people per year to access new state of the art facilities such as workshop spaces, sports halls, art rooms, recording studios and skateparks.

The youth centres will offer activities ranging from dance, drama and music to sport, horticulture and employment skills development.

The funding was announced on 3 February,the same the first new build youth centre funded by the Youth Investment Fund opened its doors. The Chichester Shed has used a grant of over £420,000 to build a brand new space to support more than 120 young people. The Shed will will provide a space to relax and learn new skills, with activities including woodworking, yoga and skateboarding available.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: "I want to see every young person have someone to talk to, something to do, and somewhere to go outside of the classroom, no matter where they are from, to help maximise their potential in life.

"This next round of funding from the Youth Investment Fund will help nearly 20,000 more young people achieve this goal.

"We have now committed to building or refurbishing over 220 projects in some of the country’s most underserved areas, creating more opportunities for young people to gain the skills needed to succeed in life and stopping them from falling through the cracks.”

Denise Hatton, Chair of Back Youth Alliance said: "We are delighted that nearly 20,000 young people will be able to access new and refurbished youth clubs through the latest instalment of the National Youth Guarantee. With mental health, loneliness and anti-social behaviour all on the rise, now more than ever young people need a safe space to go, a trusted adult to speak to and access to positive activities in their communities all year round."