Youth groups receive £2.6m funding from London mayor

The funding forms the third investment for youth projects made available through the mayor's £45m Young Londoners Fund, after previous rounds of investment in May and June.

It is estimated that around 10,000 young people in the capital will benefit from this latest round of funding, which is targeting those in the 10 London boroughs most affected by knife and violent crime.

Chance to Shine, which encourages children to play cricket, is among those to receive funding. The programme has been handed £100,000 to promote street cricket as a way of raising young people's aspirations and creating opportunities in areas of deprivation.

"This will ensure that we can provide positive, accessible and local opportunities for children and young adults to play cricket," said Chance to Shine chief executive Laura Cordingley.

"Offering a safe space to play cricket, helping them to develop, make new friends and to feel more integrated within their communities."

Lewisham Youth Theatre has received £90,000 to deliver an outreach programme to encourage vulnerable young people to take part in drama activities. This programme also includes mentoring and one-to-one support.

"Over 70 per cent of our participants face significant disadvantage, and have a range of needs," said Lewisham Youth Theatre executive director Victoria Shaskan.

"Every day, we see the difference that having a safe space where they can be themselves, make friends and have their voices heard makes - how it raises the confidence, ambitions and outlook of our participants."

• Experts look to public health model to tackle surge in youth knife crime
  
  
• Analysis: How to ensure youth work thrives

Other organisations to receive funding include Free to be Kids, which has received £72,000 to provide a therapeutic residential programme, mentoring and a young leaders programme.

Knights Youth Centre has been given £97,753 to deliver the Girls Empowered Against Crime programme, which targets young women at risk of being involved with crimes, gangs and violence.

In July, £750,000 worth of funding was made available through the fund to 15 schools to provide summer activities and ongoing support to young people.

In May, 34 projects aimed at protecting young people from knife crime shared £1.15m through the Fund. Boxing clubs, mentoring projects and employment initiatives were among those to benefit.

The fund is the largest single investment in youth services outside of the National Citizen Service. Over its three-year run £15m a year will be made available for education, sport and cultural activities aimed at disadvantaged young people.