Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of levels of (a) youth services and (b) wider community infrastructure on educational outcomes.

This government published Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy in December, following extensive research through qualitative data collection and wider evidence collation, and direct engagement with young people to understand their needs. It sets out the importance of high quality education as a foundation for improving young people’s lives.

We recognise young people’s educational outcomes are bolstered by access to positive activities, opportunities to develop skills, and spaces where they feel heard and connected to their community. Youth Matters committed to over £60 million to improve access to enriching activities and youth work, £350 million to refurbish or build up to 250 youth facilities, and £132.5 million of dormant assets into enriching opportunities through Every Child Can. In addition, the £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme will support up to 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England, helping them to better connect with their local community to improve the enrichment offer to their pupils.