Youth Investment Fund awards grants worth a further £70m

The UK Government's Youth Investment Fund has announced another £70 million in grant funding to help transform youth services in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas, levelling-up the youth sector and creating life-changing opportunities for thousands of young people. The grants, from a fund worth over £300 million, will benefit another 44 youth projects and will increase the number of young people accessing them by over 12,000.

Awards include capital grants ranging from £350,000 to £8 million and mean that over £160 million has been invested so far in youth projects across the most underserved areas in England. More grants are expected to be revealed later this year.

Lucy Frazer, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports, said “I want every young person to have the opportunity to access the kinds of life-changing activities which expand their horizons and allow them to develop vital life skills.

These next 44 youth centres will give 12,000 more young people the opportunity to access these activities, building on the first tranche of Youth Investment Fund investment that is seeing new projects like the Alt Valley Communiversity opening in Liverpool. We will make sure every young person has someone to talk to, something to do, somewhere to go.”

Nick Temple, CEO for Social Investment Business, that leads the delivery partnership said:

“The Youth Investment Fund is all about prioritising the needs of young people in England and creating a more equal society for future generations. It is wonderful to see how the fund is already transforming young people’s opportunities to experience the joy of local youth services designed for, and by, young people. Today’s announcement means another 12,000 young people can access quality, sustainable and accessible youth clubs.”

“It is so exciting to see the first Youth Investment Fund projects open their doors to young people, giving them every opportunity to make friends, have fun, discover their passions, and thrive. And it is just the start: thousands more young people will benefit from new or expanded local youth services, supporting their wellbeing and helping them gain vital skills for life and work.”