By Emily Caulkett-
Hundreds of youth facilities in deprived areas ARE to be transformed with new investment43 youth centres to receive a slice of over £90 million to build or renovate facilities as part of life-changing Youth Investment Fund.
Through the Youth Investment Fund, 45,000 more young people will have access to facilities, the positive activities they provide and the opportunities they open up
One million extra hours of youth services to be provided in anti-social behaviour hotspots across the country, through £11 million investment as part of Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan announced today.
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There are 20,000 new places to be created at youth groups including The Scouts and Girl Guides through allocation of £16.9 million Uniformed Youth fund
Young people are to benefit from the rebuilding and renovation of youth centres in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas, as beneficiaries of the first major tranche from the Government’s Youth Investment Fund have been announced today.
Over £90 million has been allocated to 43 organisations from the Fund’s overall total of over £300 million. This will pave the way for 300 youth facilities to be built or refurbished over the next three years in areas where need is high and existing youth provision is low.
Facilities set to benefit include community youth spaces and youth centres large and small, aiming to help 45,000 more young people access regular, positive activities every year. This will support their wellbeing, give them opportunities to develop vital skills for life and empower them to be active members of their local community.
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Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer 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.
The National Youth Guarantee will provide these opportunities and support young people with access to regular club activities, adventures away from home and volunteering opportunities.
We are supporting this today with an investment to create or renovate spaces for youth clubs and activities to support opportunities for thousands of young people across the country who would otherwise miss out.
Examples of those receiving grants in this tranche of funding include:
Edinburgh House – This organisation in Stoke-on-Trent will use its grant of nearly £2 million for a renovation and extension project to support an additional 150 young people per week. Working closely with young people to develop the project plans, funding will allow the project to extend their offering of workshops, which range from art sessions, photography, drama, music and dance, to mindfulness, cooking, nutritional education, sports and outdoor activities.
Lambton Street – A youth project based in Sunderland that aims to help young people develop the skills to transition into adulthood in a safe and caring environment. Allocated a £785,000 grant, it will undergo a redesign and upgrade to extend its reach to an additional 120 young people a week, make the building accessible to disabled young people and to radically improve its sustainability.
A £4.3 million grant was allocated to the Brighton Centre, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility accessible for all young people across Brighton, aiming to reach 3,000 young people a week. All activities are free to young people, offering a range of activities from arts and music to safe spaces for counselling.
The Alt Valley Skills Centre – A hub for all young people, they provide social care, life skills, education, training, social and wellbeing activities for people with special needs. The Youth Investment Fund grant of £2.5 million will transform the building, enabling it to support over 200 more young people per week with additional activities, including horticulture, cooking, games nights, disco nights, fitness, drama and movie nights.
Nottingham Mencap – A charity that gives people living with learning disabilities or autism choice and independence. Through a grant of £445,400 the project will be refurbished to offer a music and drama room, an IT suite and a gymnasium, as well as allowing a lift to be installed to improve accessibility. Once complete, the site will cater up to 100 young people at a time.
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