Labour’s Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes has announced a £265 million cash injection to improve access to sports, arts and drama for children in 18 disadvantaged areas across the country.

The funding comes as the Department for Communities, Schools and Families release figures that show that half of all schools are already providing extended school services.
Labour’s Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes said: “We know that in many areas there is a really good offer to young people – through extended schools, youth and leisure services and a wide range of voluntary and community organisations.

“However, as summer approaches I urge all Local Authorities to redouble their efforts to consult with young people and actively promote activities to them. We need to focus our attention on areas where there is high incidence of anti social behaviour by young people and also help marginalised young people overcome the barriers they face to participation.”

“The IPSOS MORI survey published today confirms the wide range of activities that the majority of schools are now providing. The next step is to ensure that all schools by 2010 are providing extended services, that parents are aware of what is available for them locally and that the most disadvantaged children and young people can access them.

“We want all local authorities to consult widely with young people to provide the sorts of positive activities they want, not only during the school holidays, but also in the evenings, when they are so badly needed. The vast majority of children and young people are law abiding and contributing well to society, but long summer evenings with nothing to do can encourage young people to get into trouble. We want to make sure they have places to go to and things to do to stop this happening.”

The 18 areas receiving a share of £265 million to pilot the extended schools subsidy are: St Helens, Oldham, Gateshead, Redcar and Cleveland, East Riding, Rotherham, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, Derby City, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Luton, Somerset, Wiltshire, Croydon, Newham, Oxfordshire and Portsmouth.