From Westminster to the heart of MK – leaders meet the city’s next generation as £88m youth investment is unveiled

Milton Keynes will benefit from a share of the £88 million national investment in youth services, announced at Milton Keynes Central Library during a visit by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and MK Central MP Emily Darlington.

The government says the funding will give young people more opportunities to take part in structured activities outside school – from climbing walls and outdoor adventures to music lessons and volunteering – with the aim of building skills, confidence and community connections.

Local business leaders have long highlighted the link between high-quality youth provision and a stronger, more work-ready future workforce. Initiatives that encourage teamwork, leadership and creativity, they say, can help address skills shortages and boost employability.

A local focus
Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, said she was “proud” to showcase MK’s young people to ministers. “We have a huge amount of talent in this city. Expanding youth provision is about giving our young people the skills, experiences and opportunities they need to thrive – and that benefits the whole community, including local employers.”

The Building Creative Futures package includes:

  • £22.5 million over three years to offer sport, art, music, outdoor activities, debating and volunteering in up to 400 schools.
  • £30.5 million for the Better Youth Spaces programme, improving youth club facilities – from gym equipment to climbing walls – in high-poverty areas.
  • £8 million for the Local Youth Transformation pilot, helping councils assess and improve their youth offers.
  • £19 million for the Million Hours Fund, delivering more youth work in areas with high rates of anti-social behaviour.
  • £7.5 million for the Uniformed Youth Fund, creating new places in groups such as the Scouts, Guides and Volunteer Police Cadets.

Impact beyond the classroom
The package is designed not only to support personal development but also to connect young people with local communities and keep them engaged in positive activities. For Milton Keynes, one of the UK’s fastest-growing cities, the investment could provide fresh opportunities for collaboration between youth services, education providers and the private sector.

Lisa Nandy praised the enthusiasm of the young people she met in Milton Keynes, calling them “phenomenal” and describing the visit as “one of the best days I’ve had in the job”.

The funding is part of a wider Plan for Change, which also includes extending voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds, a £500 million Better Futures Fund for youth support services, and new guidance to protect young people from online harms.