Introduction
Welcome to the latest edition of DCMS Youth Team Newsletter. This includes recent announcements on our programmes; ministerial updates; and links to new research and evaluation reports.
National Youth Strategy – Upcoming launch
We are developing a National Youth Strategy to set out a new long-term vision for young people and an action plan for delivering this. Over the last year, we have been co-producing the Strategy with young people and cross-sector experts and want to thank everyone for their contributions.
It draws together the voices of over 14,000 young people of the ages 10-21 and up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who engaged in the National Youth Strategy Survey. It also makes use of insights collated through policy engagement, qualitative data collection and wider evidence collation. These insights will be published in a state of the nation report, Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Nation and will be directly referenced in the Strategy.
We plan to launch the Strategy later in the year, alongside Today’s Youth Tomorrow’s Nation. There will be opportunities to engage with the Strategy after its publication, such as webinars and events. Further details will be released soon.
Million Hours Fund – Latest Update
The Million Hours Fund provides youth organisations with funding to deliver over a million additional hours of positive activities for young people in areas with higher levels of anti-social behaviour. It gives young people more places to go and positive things to do.
DCMS and the National Lottery Community Fund launched Phase 3 of the Million Hours Fund, a £19 million joint investment (£12 million from DCMS and £7 million from the National Lottery Community Fund), on 30 July 2025. The Fund will run until 31 March 2027.
The Million Hours Fund Phase 3 is now closed to applications. The funding closed earlier than planned because of the large number of applications received. The National Lottery Community Fund is now in the process of assessing and allocating the funding. More information can be found here.
Better Youth Spaces – New Round of Funding Released
Better Youth Spaces is £30.5m of capital grants to be used for small scale-capital projects of £5k-£100k, including capital equipment, small refurbishments and other capital projects to help youth organisations to better support the young people they work with.
Applications for the initial round of funding opened on 6th August 2025 and closed in September.
An additional round of funding will be opened on the 6th October and last until noon on the 6th November. This will be for equipment only. For details of how to apply see the Better Youth Spaces web page.
All grant drawdown requests and suitable evidence of eligible expenditure to make grant claims must be submitted by 28th February 2026 (we will agree the exact date with individual grantees)
Enrichment Expansion Programme – Your Chance to Get Involved
As you may know, DCMS, in strategic partnership with DfE, will invest £22.5 million across 3 years to support up to 400 schools to provide a youth-voice led, tailored enrichment offer.
We are proposing to fund strategic co-ordinator roles in local areas to work directly with schools, expanding access to high-quality enrichment opportunities — including arts, cultural activities, sport and wider youth activities — with a particular focus on disadvantaged and underserved pupils.
This will be supported by the DfE Enrichment Framework (with DCMS) and work in tandem with other enrichment initiatives, supporting connections and partnerships in local areas.
If you would like the opportunity to be involved in a co-design session for this enrichment funding, please provide your email address here by Friday 31st October. We are particularly interested in hearing from:
- Youth sector bodies involved in direct delivery
- Infrastructure bodies from youth and enrichment (including sports, arts, culture) sectors
- Enrichment providers
- Organisations with experience of working with/delivering in schools
Depending on the level of interest, we may hold more than one session. We will confirm dates and times in due course.
Funding for Enrichment via Dormant Assets Scheme
This government fully recognises the transformative power arts, culture, sport and wider youth activities can have on young people and is committed to ensuring that every child can reach their potential and live a creative life.
That is why the government has announced a £132.5m investment of dormant assets funding to increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability.
On the 28th September the government announced c.£10m investment of Dormant Assets funding to ensure every primary school has a library by the end of this Parliament (2029). Library spaces provide opportunities for children to learn and grow, and to develop their interests both independently and alongside trusted adults.
DCMS Youth Team Update – Senior Staffing Changes
After a number of years in the youth team, including a very busy recent period, are pleased to say that Alina Sellman will take up a new role as Head of Social Connections and Tackling Loneliness. We want to thank Alina for her invaluable contributions to the work of the Youth Team covering many areas, including NCS, social action, strategy, Dormant Assets and more.
Rachel Corcoran will become the new co-head of the Youth Strategy team with Fiona Stone and Kayleigh Wainwright, on a managed move basis. Rachel is moving from her role as Head of Social Connections and Tackling Loneliness and brings valuable experience to the team.
Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
Uniformed Youth Fund Evaluation
In September we published the Uniformed Youth Fund evaluation. The process evaluation of the Uniformed Youth Fund revealed substantial achievements in expanding youth provision across England, particularly in areas of deprivation. The impact evaluation also reported positive outcomes for young people as a result of participating in UYOs, including fostering wellbeing, social emotional development, skill development and greater community connections.
Based on these findings, the report proposes several recommendations that cut across both the process and impact findings. and the process report.
On GOV.UK you can find the process evaluation report, the impact evaluation report and the combined executive summary which includes a list of recommendations.
Barriers and Enablers to Participation in Youth Activities Report
The Barriers and Enablers to Participation in Youth Activities report explores why some young people do not participate in youth activities, and what barriers and enablers explain why. The research also explores the effect of a range of personal characteristics (e.g. age, gender and ethnicity) on patterns of participation. You can read the full report here.
Contact us: youth@dcms.gov.uk
Webpage: Gov.uk/DCMS
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