DCMS Youth Newsletter - October 2026
Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy
Building on our key commitments
On 26 September 2026, the DCMS Secretary of State announced a major drive to support the recruitment, training and employment of 1000 new youth workers. This represents the largest investment in youth services in a generation and marks the first step in rebuilding the youth workforce.
See more detail on this announcement in the ‘People Who Care’ section.
Opportunities for young people discussed at the Civil Society Council
On Thursday 15 October, Minister Foxcroft and the Secretary of State joined the Prime Minister at the latest Civil Society Council meeting, which took place at the King’s Trust in Manchester.
Minister Foxcroft led a discussion on opportunities for young people that focused particularly on how government and civil society can work together to give young people the confidence, skills and support that they need to transition into the world of work. The full meeting readout is available here.
People who care
1000 new youth workers to help reduce the risk of unemployment
Young people across England will benefit from specialised support outside of home and school, as the government launches a major drive to support the training and employment of 1,000 new youth workers. The new youth workers will work with young people aged 11+, particularly those at highest risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training), providing support through community spaces and outreach. The first youth workers are expected to be in post by spring 2027.
The announcement forms part of the government's commitment to rebuild the youth workforce supporting the ambition for 500,000 more young people to have access to a trusted adult by 2035.
Further details will be announced in due course.
National Youth Agency launches Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work
On October 7th the National Youth Agency announced its Standard Qualification Framework (SQF) for Youth Work. The SQF for Youth Work creates clearer and more accessible routes into and through the profession, helping people enter youth work, develop their careers and progress towards professionally qualified status. Its development was funded by DCMS.
Support for Care Leavers at Risk of or Experiencing Homelessness
On 30 September 2026, key provisions of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 came into force to better support care leavers experiencing or at higher risk of homelessness.
This includes new duties requiring local authorities to publish their plans for care leavers' accommodation needs, work with housing partners and support those at risk of homelessness. The Department for Education has published updated guidance: The local offer for care leavers.
The changes also prevent certain care leavers under 25 from being found intentionally homeless, recognising that losing a home can be linked to trauma, instability and unmet support needs from their time in care.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated the Homelessness Code of Guidance to reflect these reforms, including a new chapter on young people and those with care experience.
Councils will receive more than £26 million over three years to provide targeted support for eligible care leavers who become homeless, helping them remain in accommodation and avoid rough sleeping. Further information is available in the funding allocations.
The Latest from the Tackling Loneliness Hub
Events: Join us on Thursday 12th November, 4–5pm, for Addressing loneliness among children and young people at school. Chaired by Dr Caron Carter, the session will share practical approaches from The Marmalade Trust, Daniela O’Neill’s Board Game Buddies project in Canada, and Only7Seconds in the USA. Hear ideas for whole-school action, share challenges and connect with others working to strengthen belonging and social connection among children and young people in educational settings.
Interested in tackling loneliness and building social connection? Join the Hub here!
Things to do and Places to Go
Enrichment Expansion Programme webinar for providers
In September, we launched the Enrichment Expansion Programme, a three year programme supporting 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England to provide a youth-led, tailored enrichment offer and to meet the benchmarks set out in the Enrichment Framework.
The Youth Sport Trust is leading delivery of the programme, supported by a consortium of Enrichment System Builders:
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Curious Minds
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The Enterprise Academy
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EFL in the Community
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Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
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UK Youth
While direct programme funding is available only to schools, a key ambition of the programme is to help schools build strong, sustainable partnerships with local clubs, charities, organisations, youth groups and community providers. We are keen to ensure the programme complements and builds upon existing local provision and good practice, rather than duplicating it.
To introduce the programme in more detail and explore opportunities for organisations to engage, the Youth Sport Trust is hosting an online briefing webinar on Monday 2 November 2026, 11:30am to 12:30pm
If your organisation has a specific interest in Enrichment and/or is already delivering in programme areas, you can register a place use the following link: Webinar Registration - Zoom
DCMS and YST look forward to welcoming you and discussing how we can work together to expand enrichment opportunities for young people.
Getting ready for Erasmus+ applications opening in November
Applications for Erasmus+ opportunities are expected to open in November, with a range of opportunities across the education, youth and sport sectors. You can find more detail on youth projects here. We encourage you to read through the available information, build your partnerships and start developing your proposals. The British Council is running multiple thematic events in the next few weeks, focusing on different aspects of the programme. You can see the events here.
Celebrating the UK's First National Cadets Week
The UK's first ever National Cadets Week took place from 5–11 October 2026, celebrating cadet organisations across the country, including the five Ministry of Defence-sponsored Cadet Forces, police, fire and St John Ambulance cadets.
Cadet units opened their doors to schools, families and local communities for a range of activities. Highlights included a Whitehall takeover, where cadets visited the Ministry of Defence, DCMS and the Department for Education, and took part in a Q&A with Defence ministers. The week also saw the opening of a new Joint Cadet Centre in Hastings and an industry engagement event bringing together more than 40 businesses to support cadets.
Employers were encouraged to offer five days of paid volunteering leave to staff who volunteer as Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, recognising their important role in supporting young people.
Brigadier Anthony Lamb, Head of Youth and Cadets at the Ministry of Defence, said:
“National Cadets Week has shown, in the best possible way, just how much our cadet forces mean to communities right across the UK. This week has been a brilliant celebration of the skills, confidence and resilience that cadets build, and of the thousands of volunteers who make it all possible. I'd encourage anyone thinking about getting involved, as a cadet or a volunteer, to take that first step and contact their local unit.”
Find out more about getting involved with your local cadet force on GOV.UK.
Youth Empowerment at No. 10 Downing Street
Koby Davis, a member of the Youth Advisory Group who was involved in developing the Youth Matters, attended an event at No. 10 Downing Street to discuss the importance of co-production with communities.
Reflecting on the event, Koby said:
"It was an incredible privilege to be invited to Number 10 Downing Street to discuss the power of co-production with communities. Drawing on my experience as a youth advisor helping to shape the national youth strategy, I was proud to emphasise that meaningful co-production must be rooted in genuine power-sharing rather than extractive engagement.
For too long, young people have not had a meaningful stake in society, and this strategy represents the beginning of an important shift. As a care-experienced and neurodiverse advisor, it was especially meaningful to ensure that marginalised and often unheard young people were central to the conversation. It was also incredibly powerful to hear how highly regarded the strategy’s work is and how it is informing thinking across other parts of central government.
It was brilliant to meet so many people from across civil society and to represent DCMS and youth work in such an important space."
Young People's Voices at DCMS Manchester Panel
Serena hosted and chaired a DCMS panel in Manchester exploring the importance of youth clubs and the positive impact they can have on young people's lives.
Reflecting on the event, Serena said:
"It was a real privilege to host the panel and hear directly from young people about their experiences. Youth clubs had such a positive impact on me growing up, so being able to help create a space where young people could share their perspectives and be listened to was incredibly meaningful."
Applications Open to Deliver the UK - Ireland Youth Forum
#iWill Festival of Social ActionDCMS and FCDO are looking for an organisation to lead the delivery of the next UK-Ireland Youth Forum.
The UK-Ireland Youth Forum brings together 60 young people, aged 16-24 from across the UK and Ireland to have their say on the issues that matter to them, and shape the future of the UK-Ireland relationship. It was announced in 2025 by HMG and the Government of Ireland.
Following an impactful Forum hosted in Ireland earlier this year, which a number of UK-based youth organisations supported, we are preparing for the next Forum to take place in the UK in early 2027.
Applications will close on 26 October. Please contact [email protected] if you would like the application pack or for any further information.
Join this year’s #iWill Festival of Social Action from 18–20 November 2026!
This annual campaign brings together young people, community groups, and partner organisations across the country for three days to celebrate youth-led projects, share regional achievements, and create positive social change. Visit the #iWill website for more information and to find out how you can get involved.
COVID-19 Day of Reflection - join the youth workshop
The COVID-19 Day of Reflection on Sunday 14th March 2027 will give young people across the UK an opportunity to share their experiences, remember lost loved ones, and reflect on how the pandemic touched their lives.
At the end of November, DCMS will be holding a workshop to share more about the day and wider COVID-19 commemorative programme, with an opportunity to hear from and network with young people and youth organisations. To express your interest please contact [email protected].
DfE Publishes New Advocacy Guidance and National Standards
The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated statutory guidance, Effective advocacy for looked-after children, children in need and care leavers, alongside new National Standards for the Provision of Children's and Young People's Advocacy Services.
These documents set out expectations for local authorities, advocacy providers and children's services staff, strengthening the role of advocacy in ensuring children and young people's voices are heard.
The guidance aims to ensure that children and young people:
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Have their views, wishes and feelings heard in decisions affecting their lives.
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Can access independent advocacy when they need support, information, advice or representation.
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Have their rights protected and promoted, particularly when navigating social care, education, housing, safeguarding and the transition to adulthood.
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Receive support early so that concerns and complaints can be resolved before escalating into formal disputes.
Directors of Children's Services should ensure relevant leaders, commissioners and practitioners are familiar with the new guidance and standards and consider any implications for local commissioning and service delivery.
The latest #iwill Fund IELC Interim Report on TNLCF’s website, see here. This report is the second interim report from the #iwill Fund Impact Evaluation. It looks at what has happened so far and what the evaluation has learned.
The evaluation of the Uniform Youth Fund’s 2025/26 delivery has now been published on GOV.UK. It is a process evaluation of the 1-year extension of the fund, exploring how the fund was delivered and to what extent it achieved its objective.
The latest evaluation report of the Duke of Edinburgh Award has been published on the DofE website. The link to the report directly is here.
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) including on Youth policy.
Find out how to get involved here.
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Impacts of public services being delivered by civil society organisations
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Research: Loneliness, isolation and social connection among boys and young men in England
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Young people and work: Interim Report (Independent Report by Alan Milburn)
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Summary report of the insights gathered at regional roadshows after the publication of Youth Matter (Produced by NYA).
