What is the £88M funding package for?

The £88M funding package announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is intended to provide youth clubs and after-school activities in England with resources to offer young people opportunities for sports, outdoor pursuits, arts, and volunteering, in an effort to tackle the "worrying trend" of youth isolation and disconnection from their communities.

How will the £88M funding be used?

Of the £88M package, £22.5M is new funding to support extracurricular activities in up to 400 schools over the next three years, while the remaining £65.5M will be used to improve youth club infrastructure and support youth work in areas with high levels of child poverty and antisocial behavior.

Why is the UK government investing in youth activities?

The government is investing in youth activities to address the growing issue of young people becoming "isolated at home and disconnected from their communities," as described by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The funding aims to provide young people with a "better alternative" to spending time on smartphones and computers, and to help them develop essential life skills and confidence.

Home / Education / £88M Boost for Youth Clubs: Tackling Isolation and Disconnection

£88M Boost for Youth Clubs: Tackling Isolation and Disconnection

5 Aug

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Summary

£88M funding for youth clubs and after-school activities in England
Aims to get young people away from smartphones and computers
Offer opportunities for sports, outdoor activities, arts, and volunteering

£88M Boost for Youth Clubs: Tackling Isolation and Disconnection

In a move to address the growing issue of youth isolation and disconnection, the UK government has announced a £88M funding package for youth clubs and after-school activities in England. The initiative, unveiled by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on August 3rd, 2025, is intended to provide young people with a "better alternative" to spending time on smartphones and computer screens.

The funding will be used to offer a range of extracurricular opportunities, including sports, outdoor pursuits, art, music, debating, and volunteering. Starmer acknowledged the "worrying trend" of young people finding themselves "isolated at home and disconnected from their communities," and the new investment aims to help them develop essential life skills and confidence.

Of the £88M package, £22.5M is new funding to support activities in up to 400 schools over the next three years. The remaining £65.5M, announced in the June 2025 spending review, will be used to improve youth club infrastructure and support youth work in areas with high levels of child poverty and antisocial behavior.

The government's move comes as the number of youth centers run by local authorities in England has almost halved between 2012 and 2023, with a 75% decrease in council spending on youth work and a significant drop in the number of youth workers.

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