Youth Services and Activities

17 March 2022

| | 2 min read

Youth Services and Activities

A decision by Newcastle Council to allocate £480,000 to boost youth services and activities across the city is to be welcomed.

Following the launch of the Newcastle Youth Fund last year, the Council working in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund has to date allocated cash to 25 voluntary bodies to deliver services for young people across the city. Most of these projects are now up and running. In our own area Action for Children, Hat-Trick, Inspire Youth and Smile for Life our delivering worthwhile projects for youngsters.
Kenton school has two dedicated youth workers and 'The Haven' next to Mountfield school is being renovated and will offer activities for young people later this year as part of Children & Families Newcastle.

The aim of the Newcastle Youth Fund, both in Kenton and elsewhere in the city, is to support a diverse range of activities for 13 to 19-year olds together with provision for SEND young adults under 25.  Young people themselves have played a key role in the design of these projects.

We know from experience that youth projects and activities that engage and inspire young people helps to boost emotional health and well being as well as building resilience. Youth clubs also help to address and reduce anti-social behaviour and play a pivotal role in crime prevention.

The Council will invest £290,000 into the Youth Fund every year and there will be matched funding of £150,000 per year for the first two years from the Lottery Fund.