Source: Department for Education published on this website Tuesday 6 October 2026 by Jill Powell
Hundreds of thousands more young people in disadvantaged communities will get the chance to join sports teams, learn an instrument, or take part in debating and outdoor adventures, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and stay engaged both in and out of education.
More than 400 secondary schools will benefit from tailored support backed by £22.5 million through the government’s Enrichment Expansion programme.
The investment will help schools broaden opportunities for pupils by putting on more activities during the school day or after school ranging from music groups, engineering clubs and debating societies to football teams, volunteering projects and outdoor learning programmes. By building confidence, skills and a sense of belonging, these experiences can help keep young people engaged in education and set them up for future success.
The programme speaks to the findings of the State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that young people want safe spaces, trusted adults, better mental health support and greater access to enriching activities. Yet too many are still missing out because of where they live or the barriers they face.
Without access to enrichment, too many young people miss out on the confidence, skills and sense of belonging that help them succeed. Those least likely to participate are also more likely to become not in education, employment or training (NEET), making these opportunities a vital part of helping young people stay engaged, raise their aspirations and prepare for future success.
In response, the government launched the Youth Matters Strategy in December last year and committed to halving the participation gap in enriching activities between disadvantaged young people and their peers by 2035.
Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), delivered in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE), the Enrichment Expansion programme’s additional funding and support is part of this solution, helping those schools facing the greatest challenges to deliver a wide range of high-quality enrichment opportunities, in line with this year’s new benchmarks for every school.
Both the Enrichment Benchmarks and the Enrichment Expansion programme form part of the government’s mission to ensure that every young person has somewhere to go, something to do and sense of community – including through the recently announced expansion of Young Futures Hubs as well as the £132.5 million Every Child Can programme, which will increase access to a wide range of high-quality activities.
The programme will be delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and a team of national partners, with dedicated Enrichment Co-ordinators managing clusters of local schools to identify gaps in their current offer, develop enrichment plans, and connect with local partners to expand opportunities for their pupils. As part of the funding, schools will receive tailored support to strengthen and grow their enrichment provision, helping more children access high-quality experiences both in and beyond the classroom who otherwise would not have been able to do so.
The investment will support schools to deliver the opportunities outlined in the government’s new Enrichment Benchmarks, announced earlier this year, which provide practical guidance to help every child access high-quality enrichment opportunities as part of their education.
Supporting delivery of the programme are 5 Enrichment Ambassadorsrepresenting arts and culture, sport and physical activity, nature, outdoors and adventure, civic engagement, and wider life and future skills. Working alongside government, they will champion participation, showcase effective practice and help ensure more children can access high-quality opportunities wherever they live.
Today’s (18 September 2026) announcement is part of the government’s drive to ensure every child can access high-quality enrichment opportunities, regardless of their background or postcode. Reflecting that commitment, today, Schools Minister Georgia Gould is attending the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Building partnerships: A 20-year story symposium, championing the role of arts and culture in helping young people thrive.
Areas were selected based on a measure covering IDACI (Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index) and CNI (Community Needs Index), weighted to enable representation across all 9 government regions and alignment with Department for Education Place Missions.
A list of areas provided at:
