Keir Starmer Announces £88 Million Investment in Youth Provision
This week’s announcement of an £88 million government investment in youth provision is a welcome and timely recognition of what so many of us already know - young people need safe, engaging, and inspiring spaces, now more than ever.
What’s in the Investment Package?
£22.5 million over three years to bring tailored extracurricular programmes to up to 400 schools, offering sports, arts, music, outdoor activities, debating, and volunteering - activities aimed at supporting wellbeing and essential life skills
A £30.5 million “Better Youth Spaces” fund to upgrade youth club infrastructure - installing things like new gym equipment and climbing walls - targeting areas with high levels of child poverty
£8 million for the Local Youth Transformation pilot, supporting local authorities with tools, guidance, and funding to elevate out‑of‑school offers
£19 million jointly with the National Lottery Community Fund to deliver over a million additional hours of youth work in areas affected by high anti‑social behaviour
£7.5 million for the Uniformed Youth Fund, creating new places in trusted groups like Scouts, Guides, and Volunteer Police Cadets in areas where demand is high
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer framed the investment as a response to a "worrying trend" of digital disconnection: “Children are too often isolated at home … detached from the real world … this investment offers transformative, real‑world opportunities that no algorithm can teach”
We’re really glad to see funding directed towards enriching extracurricular programmes, upgrading youth club infrastructure, and expanding access as these are vital pieces of the puzzle...BUT if we want this investment to create lasting impact, it can’t stop at funding alone. We need strategic collaboration across sectors - voluntary organisations, schools, local authorities, and, crucially young people themselves.
As a Young People's Foundation (an infrastructure charity) supporting over 100 youth-focused organisations in Hammersmith & Fulham, we see daily how local insight and cross-sector partnerships can unlock opportunities that truly benefit the lives young people. We also know that long-term success depends on inclusive delivery and working with organisations already that are embedded in communities and trusted by young people.
We’re excited to support our members in accessing the opportunities this funding will bring and are looking forward to working collaboratively to ensure this investment strengthens and sustains (not just funds short-term) the youth sector.
This is an exciting moment not just for provision, but for deeper connection, shared learning, and systemic change.