A SERIES of announcements which will see large investments in young people’s services has been welcomed by Steve Brine MP.

The Government has announced new support for up to 5,000 young people aged 14 to 16 at risk of falling out of education, employment or training after school, by offering intensive mentoring and wraparound support.

The ‘Building Futures’ programme will be led by the Youth Futures Foundation and supported by £15m of Dormant Assets funding. Further details about the programme and locations will be released by the Youth Futures Foundation later this year.

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The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer MP, has also launched the next phase of the ‘Million Hours Fund’ in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund. This will provide £19m in grants to youth organisations in areas across England identified as having high rates of anti-social behaviour to provide additional hours of any youth activity that is ‘open to all’.

The department has also announced that it is launching a further year of the Adventures Away From Home Fund which will provide bursaries for around 7,500 young people from poor backgrounds to access outdoor trips.

The CMS Department will also be supporting the UK Year of Service, funded alongside the National Citizen Service Trust, which will provide meaningful 9-12 months’ work placements to at least 100 young people, across the United Kingdom, setting them on a positive path towards long-term employment, education or training.

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The MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, Steve Brine, said: “I believe it is vitally important that young people are given the support they need to maximise their potential and have a fair shot at success, and I am delighted to be working with expert organisations that will help to provide this. I would encourage local employers and youth organisations in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford to get involved with these new programmes.”

To underpin these measures, the government is providing a package of support for the youth sector. Existing regional youth work units will receive £40,000 each over the next two years to facilitate greater coordination between youth services across all eight English regions, making sure the sector is well-informed, skilled and able to meet young people’s needs.

A further £250,000 will be allocated to encourage and support the creation of 10 more Local Youth Partnerships to improve services on a more local level, in areas eligible for the Youth Investment Fund (YIF).