North East youth organisations receive grant to pilot enrichment scheme
Amrit Virdi
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Two youth work organisations in the North East have been awarded government grants to test the impact of centralised enrichment support on schools.
As part of a pilot from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education’s, NE Youth and Youth Focus: North East - the founding partners of the North East Youth Alliance (NEYA) - will receive a total of £232,000 to test the Enrichment Partnerships Programme (EPP). Sport, art, drama, volunteering and outdoor experiences are some of the activities on offer to pupils as part of the EPP.
The NCS Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are delivery partners for the £2.7 million programme, which forms part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda.
-
Careers Advice and Guidance Special Report
-
How I Got Here: Andrew Poole, assistant head teacher and Senco
NEYA's involvement in the programme will focus on how engagement and quality of enrichment activities can be increased without leading to additional costs and resources for schools through centralised oversight by youth services.
NE Youth will focus on County Durham, with Youth Focus: North East helping pupils in Middlesbrough. YouthPrint Durham and Middlesbrough Youth Mutual will be involved in plans for delivery of the programme to ensure that there is strategic alignment between existing initiatives, according to NEYA.
Jon Niblo, chief executive of NE Youth, said: “NE Youth is delighted to be working collaboratively with The NCS Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on such an exciting new programme that will strengthen relationships and create new and impactful programmes in schools.”
Kevin Franks, chief executive of Youth Focus: North East, said: “Youth Focus NE is delighted to have been awarded the funding to deliver the enrichment partnership pilot in Middlesbrough. We look forward to working in collaboration with our national, regional and local partners in making a positive impact on the lives the young people and organisations we serve.”
A total of 14 organisations have been commissioned for the pilot, which will be rolled out to pupils across the North East, North West and East of England to increase uptake in enrichment activities. Further grantees are set to be announced.
