Keir Starmer has announced a major expansion of youth services and real-world opportunities for young people across the UK, encouraging greater participation in youth clubs, after-school activities, and creative programmes in music and the arts.

The funding will improve access to music clubs and instrument lessons, as well as a range of sports clubs, dance classes, rock climbing, art sessions, and more.

This initiative forms part of the Plan for Change and aims to support young people in developing essential life and work skills in an increasingly digital world.

It follows recent government announcements, including plans to extend voting rights to 16 – and 17-year-olds and the launch of the £500 million Better Futures Fund to protect young people from online harms.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Growing up today is hard for young people. As they navigate the online world, too often they find themselves isolated at home and disconnected from their communities. Today’s investment is about offering a better alternative: transformative, real-world opportunities that will have an impact in communities across the country.