DCMS Youth Newsletter - July 2026

Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy

What do government changes mean for youth policy?

With Andy Burnham as the new Prime Minister, the Government remains committed to improving the lives of young people across the country. By capping bus fares at £2, the government will lower travel costs for many young people getting into work. His aim to build an education system based on parity between academic and technical will give all young people a clear path in life and the respect they deserve.

Lisa Nandy has been reappointed as our Secretary of State, ensuring she continues to champion ‘Youth Matters’ at Cabinet. While Stephanie Peacock, Ian Murray and Fiona Twycross are welcomed back as ministers in DCMS, Vicky Foxcroft, Ruth Mackenzie and Liz Lloyd have been confirmed as joining the ministerial team. Their new portfolios will be confirmed shortly.

DCMS has been reinstated as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This means the Department’s responsibilities now include digital inclusion and skills, information resilience and online harms. This will bring together more support for young people online and offline.

We are also pleased to announce that we have a new Director for Civil Society and Youth. Ben Jupp will be taking up the role, previously held by Becky Morrison. We thank Becky for her service and look forward to working with Ben to support the youth sector. He brings great experience working previously at the Office for the Third Sector and NHS England.

‘Youth Matters’ debated in Parliament

On 8th July 2025, a debate was held in Westminster Hall on Youth Matters and enrichment. Many Members of Parliament expressed their support for youth services including the Minister for Youth, Stephanie Peacock. 

At the debate, Minister Peacock said “The Government’s landmark national youth strategy is ambitious, long term and cross cutting. ‘Youth Matters’ radically transforms how we work, to give every young person somewhere to go, someone who cares and a community that they feel part of. […] We are fiercely committed to breaking down barriers, and are working across Government and with partners to make that a reality.”

People who care

New protections for 16- and 17-year-olds online

Following the government’s announcement to ban social media services for under-16s from Spring next year, the Government has been assessing measures to help ensure there is no cliff edge in protections as young people move into their later teenage years.

The Government has announced its intentions to set default overnight curfews from midnight to 6am will be switched on for 16 and 17-year-olds on social media apps. Features that can keep users scrolling for longer - such as videos that automatically play one after another and feeds that continually serve up personalised content - will also be switched off by default for older teenagers. This follows a pilot into Social media restriction pilots and research into children’s circumvention behaviours online.

The Latest from the Tackling Loneliness Hub

Events: Join us on Wednesday 16th September for an interactive session on Loneliness, Youth and Education, run by the Campaign to End Loneliness and chaired by Amy Perrin OBE, Founder/CEO of the Marmelade Trust. Participants will feed directly into the APPG on Tackling Loneliness and Connecting Communities.   

Resources: Watch Early Intervention and the Long-term Impact of Mentoring, a The Kids Network webinar exploring how early, relational mentoring can act as a preventative response to loneliness.

Interested in tackling loneliness and building social connection? Join the Hub here!

Things to do and places to go

Wider rollout of Local Youth Transformation projects and an additional 42 Young Futures Hubs until March 2029.

Expression of Interest

On 6 July, DCMS invited a shortlist of 50 local authorities to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)  for the wider rollout of the Young Futures Hubs and Transformation Programme. 

The full list of the shortlisted local authorities invited to the EOI, including the methodology for selection, is published here. EOIs will close at the end of July and local authorities will be notified of the outcome by the end of August.

The programme has been shaped ahead of rollout by numerous stakeholders, including local authorities, an External Working Group, and young people. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their views to the policy design and programme development that has led to this major milestone for the team.

Delivery Partner Competition 

On 9 July, DCMS launched an invitation to tender for the delivery partner for the programme going forwards. The submission deadline for the tender is 4th August 2026. 

Youth Matters Fund: delivery partner competition opens

The competition for a delivery partner for the Youth Matters Fund is live. The Youth Matters Fund will provide over £400 million from DCMS 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. The Youth Matters Fund will be targeted at underserved areas and focus on making activities easier to access for disadvantaged young people, aligned with the ambitions of the National Youth Strategy.

Organisations interested in applying should read the competition guidance to ensure they meet the criteria and apply here by the deadline of 21 August 2026.

Connections Through Gaming Pilot Fund: delivery partner Competition opens

DCMS has launched a competition to select one or more ambitious delivery partners with experience of engaging and supporting young people, for an innovative three-year ‘Connections Through Gaming’ pilot. The pilot will test whether gaming-based approaches can help boys aged 11-16 who may be experiencing loneliness, isolation or social withdrawal to build confidence, strengthen social connections and improve wellbeing. The pilot will combine structured, in-person activities, trusted adult support and a secure, moderated online offer.

Organisations interested in applying to be the delivery partner of the £773,000 fund should apply here by the deadline of 11 September 2026. Further details on an information webinar to be held in mid-August will be added to Find A Grant next week.

Government appoints of New Music Plan: Creative career and enrichment opportunities for young people

The Music Plan sets out the government's commitment to back thousands of grassroots projects, over 40,000 artists and businesses, and millions of children to secure a thriving music industry. 

This includes broadening access to careers, musical opportunities, and engagement for all young people. It commits £12.5 million for libraries to be transformed into music lending libraries with free studio spaces and live performance opportunities and £10 million for creative mentoring for care experienced young people, helping them build trusted relationships with creative practitioners through 1:1 support. 

Government appoints of Enrichment Ambassadors

Photo: Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE

The Government has appointed 5 enrichment ambassadors to champion and shape good practice inside and outside of schools. They will engage with potential partners to illustrate how and where they can fund provision that makes a real difference and offer new opportunities where they are most needed. The 5 Enrichment Ambassadors are related to the 5 categories set out in the Enrichment Benchmarks:

• Life and future skills: Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, computer scientist, mathematician and social entrepreneur. 

• Nature, outdoor and adventure: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, paralympian and broadcaster. 

• Arts and culture: Marcus Davey CBE, former CEO and Artistic Director at The Roundhouse and trustee at Paul Hamlyn Foundation. 

• Sport and physical activities: Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of England Netball. 

• Civic engagement: Steve Chalke MBE, founder of Oasis Charitable Trust, British social entrepreneur and author.

Minister Peacock at the Duke of Edinburgh Award’s 70 Year Anniversary

The Duke of Edinburgh Award celebrated 70 years of transforming young people's lives at a Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons.

Minister for Youth, Stephanie Peacock, spoke at the event about the Government's commitment to high quality enrichment for all children and young people within Youth Matters. She was on a panel alongside a DofE Youth Ambassador and Ruth Marvel, the CEO of DofE Award. There were also inspirational speeches from Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

Grant available for employers of young people

The Youth Jobs Grant  launched on 30 June 2026 across Great Britain. This Scheme supports employers by offering a grant of £3,000 to an eligible employer that hires an eligible young person for a minimum employment period of 16 weeks. You can apply for the Scheme via the UK Government’s Find a Grant service at Youth Jobs Grant - Find a Grant.

The Youth Jobs Grant helps employers create job opportunities for young people aged 18 to 24 who have been on Universal Credit for 6 months or more and are looking for work. It forms part of the wider Youth Guarantee and Youth Matters to support young people into work.

Regional plans published for school improvement

The Department for Education has published regional RISE plans for school improvement. The regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme aims to break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their future success. RISE provides support at 2 levels:

• universal support to help all schools improve

• targeted interventions for eligible schools

Find out more about Erasmus+

Erasmus+ offers transformative international experiences for learners, trainees and staff across the UK in education, youth and sport. The Erasmus+ website is live here with information, content and upcoming events on the programme. 

We are also delighted to share that a specific guidance page for the youth strand of Erasmus+ has been created here, breaking down the objectives, priorities and helpful steps to apply to the programme.

Check out these short Erasmus+ awareness videos in English and Welsh. There will be further information, useful resources and events over the coming weeks. Sign up to the British Council’s newsletter to keep up to date. 

Seen and Heard

Help us shape the future of Youth Empowerment Programmes with young people

The DCMS Youth Team wants to hear from young people and organisations across England to understand the role of youth services and young people themselves in increasing young people's involvement in democracy and decision making. 

This follows the publication of Youth Matters and the upcoming Votes at 16 legislation. We are keen to hear from a diverse range of voices, particularly those who are currently under-represented in these programmes. The result of this will directly inform our policy development in this area. 

You can help by: 

• Share this survey for young people through your networks so that as many as possible can take part; and/or

• Running a discussion with young people using our Discussion Guide Toolkit and accompanying workshop slides. Please send feedback or any questions to [email protected] by 30 August 2026.

The government wants to hear from young people on Climate and Nature

The government is putting young people’s voices at the heart of climate and nature policy. Please share these opportunities with your networks to help us reach a wide range of young people. 

Apply to be a member of the Government’s Youth Climate and Nature Panel

The Government is looking for passionate young people from across the UK who want to help shape the future of climate and nature policy, share their views, and inspire wider action. The Youth Climate and Nature Panel will bring together young people aged 16 to 25 from across the UK, representing a wide range of backgrounds to provide insight and advice to the government. Find out how to apply here. The deadline for applications is 11 September 2026. 

Share which climate and nature issues are most important to young people

The Government is asking youth clubs, schools or community groups to submit their ideas on the climate and nature issues that are important to them. We want to hear from young people aged 16 and under. As well as written responses, we encourage creative ways to share your views, including videos, artwork,  audio recordings or presentations. These ideas will help shape what the Youth Climate and Nature Panel focuses on when it starts later this year. Share ideas here. The deadline for entries is 23 October 2026.

Cabinet Office Signs the Power of Youth Charter

On 15th July 2026, Minister Satvir Kaur and Cat Little formally signed the Power of Youth Charter on behalf of the Cabinet Office. This follows DMCS as the first Central Government Department to sign the power of Youth Charter in June.

Developed by the #iWill Movement and backed by over 400 organisations, the Charter provides a clear framework for public bodies to treat young people as genuine partners in decision-making. This builds on the Cabinet Office’s current youth empowerment initiatives including a new ‘Cabinet Office Future Policy Leaders’ internship pilot and a new work experience programme for 16-18 year olds from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Shape the future of the National Lottery Good Causes

On 1st July, the Government announced a Call for Evidence on National Lottery good cause funding, open until 23 September 2026. 

Since 1994, the National Lottery has generated over £53 billion for good causes across the UK, funding elite and grassroots sport, cultural institutions and local community projects.

DCMS wants to hear from the public on how this funding can better align with modern priorities, reach the areas that need it most and how we can reduce bureaucracy. Individuals and organisations from across the UK are welcome to complete the survey.

Apply for funding from the European Youth Foundation

The European Youth Foundation (EYF) is a fund that provides grants to non-governmental youth organisations to promote peace, understanding and international co-operation between young people in Europe and beyond.

Open calls for proposals on:

• Living and building democracy: initiatives that empower young people to learn about and actively engage in democracy and human rights 

• International youth co-operation activities: by and for young people from Ukraine

For more information on criteria and how to apply, and information sessions please visit the European Youth Foundation website.

Apply for the Democratic Engagement Fund

The Government has launched the Democratic Engagement Fund. This will provide grants to civil society organisations to deliver politically neutral, place‑based activities that help people understand, engage with, and participate in democracy.

Prospectus (full details): Democratic Engagement Fund: Prospectus - GOV.UK

Explainer: Everything you need to know about the Democratic Engagement Fund

Apply: Find a grant page

Contact: [email protected]

Applications open: 22 June 2026, Deadline: 31 August 2026

Children's Commissioner's National Survey - The Big Future

There is still time to complete the Children's Commissioner's National Survey.

Deadline: 23rd October 2026. Resources & FAQs

Research and Evaluation

Collaborate with DCMS on Research 

The Government is looking for experts from all career stages to register their interest in working with DCMS and/or submitting evidence to support its Areas of Research Interest (ARIs). These set out policy issues, evidence needs and research questions identified by UK government departments, agencies, and devolved governments. One of DCMS’ ARIs is understanding the youth sector and how to improve outcomes for young people. 

Find out more about how to get involved here.

Research Report: Children and young people’s wellbeing online 

This report looks at how parents, children and young people view social media - including its benefits and risks - and what they think about possible restrictions such as an under-16 ban. It draws on 2 nationally representative surveys (one of parents and one of children and young people) carried out by Savanta, alongside a public consultation - Growing up in the online world: a national consultation. This includes work by researchers at Savanta, along with partners at UK Youth, Volunteering Matters and the #iWill Movement. Eight Youth Collaborators aged 16–21, drawn from across the UK, helped design and deliver this project alongside the research team.

We want to thank all the organisations, parents and young people who participated in this conversation. 

Read the full report here.

Read the summary report here.

Evaluation: Million Hours Fund Phase 2 Evaluation

On 19th June, the Government published the interim report updates on the delivery and process evaluation of the Million Hours Fund phase two.

 The Million Hours Fund (MHF) provided youth organisations with funding to deliver positive activities for young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour. Funding was for organisations to provide extra support to young people in areas with higher rates of anti-social behaviour, funding extra hours of youth work to give these young people more places to go and positive things to do.

Evaluation: Creative Careers Programme

The Creative Careers Programme (CCP), funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), provides young people (aged 11 to 24), careers advisers, and schools across England with specialist information, advice, and guidance about pursuing a career in the creative industries.

Overall, our evaluation has shown that CCP is delivering its intended intermediate outcomes either fully or partially. These findings indicate that CCP’s longer-term impacts have a strong likelihood of being delivered.

Read the full evaluation report here.

Evaluation: Duke of Edinburgh Award Access Grant Funding

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) awarded The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) £4.2 million (Ref. A2689) over three financial years (FY) (2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25) to break down barriers and increase access to the DofE, by supporting mainstream schools, Additional Needs and Alternative Provision (ANAP) settings and community organisations. The aim was to start delivering the DofE through a package of start-up support.

The DCMS grant funding programme increased access to the DofE across England, surpassing targets. Data also demonstrates an expansion of access to the DofE across a more diverse range of organisations and communities. The funding successfully removed barriers to participation, enabling thousands of young people to participate and access the benefits of the DofE Award. The strategic partnerships approach proved effective in extending reach and creating new and potentially sustainable delivery models.

Read the full evaluation report here. 

More info on the DofE Website.