Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking through the Youth Investment Fund to ensure local community associations receive funding to refurbish and maintain neighbourhood facilities.

The Youth Investment Fund (YIF) awarded over £300 million to over 250 projects to build, renovate and expand youth provision across some of the less advantaged areas across England. It is projected to support an additional 45,000 young people to regularly attend activities in funded facilities. Applications for the Youth Investment Fund closed in June 2023 with the majority of facilities completed by March 2026.

On 10 July, DCMS launched the delivery partner competition for the Youth Matters Fund. The Youth Matters Fund will provide over £400 million to enable youth organisations across the country to deliver high-quality youth work and activities as well as refurbish or build up to 250 youth facilities. Further details will be available in due course.