Government confirms capital funding for youth projects

Children's Minister Tim Loughton confirmed on 7th December 2010 that the Department for Education has secured capital funding to enable all 57 remaining projects planned under the myplace programme to continue.

The Department has secured £134 million over 2011-13 to complete the programme.

Children's Minister Tim Loughton said:

I am delighted to confirm that 57 projects funded through the myplace programme will be able to continue to completion. In the tough economic climate, securing this funding is testament to the importance the Government is placing on supporting young people.

It is vital that communities provide fun, safe places and activities for all young people, as well as extra support for the more disadvantaged, at a place that is popular and accessible.

I will be looking to these projects to make the very most of the resources they are receiving and to take every opportunity to promote young people's positive and active role in society. I want to see them working closely with their communities and local businesses to ensure they are sustainable in the long term. I also want projects led by local authorities to transfer or share ownership with the local community and with young people.

There are already 12 myplace centres open across the country, being used by hundreds of young people each week, a further 31 are currently under construction and 26 are yet to have their plans approved. The Government has instructed the Big Lottery Fund, who manage the myplace programme, to ensure that they and project sponsors are confident that projects are sustainable in the long term before giving them final approval to proceed to construction.

Jeremy Glover, Chief Executive of Onside North West, former CEO of Bolton Lads and Girls Club, said:

I'm absolutely delighted that the Government is committed to investing in facilities for young people. Young people do not have a strong collective voice and often their needs and aspirations are overlooked. At a time of unprecedented cutbacks, it really is fantastic news that the Government is investing in young people and their futures.

Mark Blundell, Chief Executive, Salmon Youth Centre said:

It is fantastic news that in these difficult times the myplace programme is going to continue to develop world-class facilities for young people to become actively involved in positive activities in their communities and the big society.

As an early recipient of a myplace grant enabling us to complete our £11 million centre, we know how important it is to have quality facilities for young people. Moving forward there will undoubtedly be hurdles to overcome in fulfilling the vision and passion that was behind the development of all the individual myplace centre proposals, but simply knowing that these state-of-the-art buildings have or will very soon be completed around the country can only be good news for this and future generations of young people.

Press Release: Department for Education, 7 December 2010