Clubs for Young People and UK Youth have announced that their boards will discuss merging this September, with a view to a vote being taken at an extraordinary general meeting before the end of the year. It is believed that a merger could take place as early as next April.

UK Youth supports more than 7,000 youth projects, while Clubs for Young People's network has 3,500 club and project members.

John Bateman, chief executive of UK Youth, said: "We're making good ground on the merger and we hope it continues that way."

He added that no decisions had been made about the future structure of the combined organisation or about potential job losses. The two voluntary organisations first began merger discussions more than 50 years ago, but it is believed that this is the furthest stage they have ever reached.