Funding boost for uniformed youth groups announced

Nine youth organisations will benefit from government funding to create additional places so that more children and young people can access local clubs and volunteering programmes, such as the Volunteer Police Cadets and the Boys’ Brigade.

Further to new places, more than 1,000 adult volunteers will now also have the opportunity to join local groups, enabling them to expand their services.

The money will provide opportunities for clubs to open up new units in disadvantaged areas or increase their recruitment drive for volunteers.

The nine projects awarded funding from the Uniformed Youth Fund are:

Boys Brigade £228,993 - which will expand existing brigades in deprived areas, as well as improve access for young people with special educational needs and those receiving mental health support.

Fire Cadets £141,199 - which will create a new unit in North East England with a focus on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), young carers and looked after children or care leavers, as well as developing new systems, learning resources and completing a strategic review process.

Girls Brigade £216,040 – which will develop a strategy for engaging disadvantaged young people, which will open four new units.

Girlguiding £718,458 - which will expand its volunteer recruitment service in the top 35% most deprived areas, as well as conducting research into social/emotional development, expanding volunteer training and improving the accessibility of its website.

Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade £292,500 – to resource a dedicated recruitment team to create a targeted campaign in synagogues, community centres and schools and develop its programme materials, systems and communications.

Scouts £781,750 - which will provide start-up grants for 60 new units, develop an impact measurement tool for use with under-13’s and deliver enhanced programme materials, to be made accessible online.

Sea Cadets £420,937 - which will open 25 new Junior Cadets units in the top 35% most deprived areas and pilot extending the age range from 10-12 to 9-12, helping with the transition from primary to secondary school.

St John Ambulance £561,250 – to recruit adult volunteers in targeted areas of England, and provide a new mentoring programme and induction for Youth Leaders.

Volunteer Police Cadets £860,500 - which will offer start-up grants to 75 new units in top 35% most deprived areas, as well as delivering a national safeguarding framework and developing a youth forum initiative.

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