Youth services fund opens for bids

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has announced a £368 million fund for youth services in the country's most underserved areas to improve the health, wellbeing, skills and opportunities for young people.

The Youth Investment Fund aims to create, improve and expand local youth facilities and services and provide funding to build or refurbish up to 300 youth facilities over the next 3 years.

The fund is open to 45 local authorities and more than 600 district wards with poor provision across England.

The funding is part of the Government’s ‘National Youth Guarantee', which aims to ensure every young person across England has access to regular out-of-school activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer. The guarantee also includes offering The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to every state secondary school.

Minister for Civil Society and Youth Nigel Huddleston said: "We are committed to ensuring that no young person is left out of reach or left behind, and have put it at the heart of our drive to level up this country.

"I encourage eligible youth services to apply for this life-changing funding."

Already this year, £12 million from the fund was fast-tracked to local youth services. The fund was administered by BBC Children in Need, with 418 youth projects receiving funding. Some projects include: "The Community Court Yard in Northampton, which was awarded a grant of more than £44,740 to fund a vehicle for detached youth work, gaming booth equipment, CCTV and the refit of the gym area; and IMO (Inspire, Motivate, Overcome) Charity in Blackburn and Darwen, which received a grant of £32,155, to fund equipment and furnishings for a new Youth Hub which will provide programmes, activities and a safe environment for young people who struggle at school with their mental health and who are in poverty.