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5,500 places to be created for young people to join
uniformed youth groups
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Funding will support expansion and development of new
groups
A new £5 million fund will increase places in uniformed youth
groups to reach vulnerable young people and allow for expansion
in deprived areas, Minister for Civil Society announced.
An estimated 5,500 spaces will be created in groups such as
police cadets, Scouts, Guides and faith-based organisations to
help reduce waiting lists for these in-demand local clubs.
The fund will help organisations open new groups in deprived
areas across England and allow more children to benefit from
weekly activities, camps or volunteering programmes - helping to
boost their wellbeing, mental health and life skills.
In addition, the Uniformed Youth Fund, will provide more
opportunities for adults to get involved in projects and
volunteer their time in order to grow and sustain groups in their
community.
, Minister for Sport and Civil
Society, said:
Organisations like the Guides and Sea Cadets play a key role in
so many childhoods. They create lasting friendships and teach
important life skills such as teamwork and resilience.
This fund strengthens our support for young people by ensuring
that even more children have access to these groups and are
helped to reach their full potential.
Samantha Hyde, Director at Youth United Foundation, said:
We are delighted to be able to expand our important work with
children and young people living in the some of the most
deprived regions in the country, providing them with the
opportunity to join a uniformed youth group and, as a result,
gain a range of life-changing skills and experiences.
We strive to increase opportunities in areas and communities
where there are least provisions and the most need, to ensure
that young people of all backgrounds are able to succeed.
The Fund will be distributed and managed by Youth United
Foundation, a member organisations for uniformed youth groups.
The Fund will also lay the foundations for groups to continue to
expand and tackle waiting lists beyond the current financial
year.
The announcement follows the recent Civil Society Strategy where
the government promised to work alongside uniformed youth groups
to consider how they can expand in disadvantaged areas.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Youth United Foundation Network collectively work with 1.5
million young people and is formed of 11 uniformed youth
organisations, including: Army Cadets Force, Boys’ Brigade, Fire
Cadets, Girls’ Brigade, Girlguiding, Jewish Lads’ and Girls’
Brigade, Royal Air Force Cadets, St. John Ambulance, Sea Cadets,
The Scout Association and Volunteer Police Cadets.
Youth United Fund’s mission is to give every young person,
regardless of economic or ethnic background, the opportunity to
join a uniformed youth group.
