The UK government has unveiled a £132.5 million boost to after-school clubs, in a bid to give children more opportunities for enrichment activities – just as ministers prepare to crack down on social media use among under-16s.
The funding package will help schools offer a wider range of extracurricular activities, from music groups and debating societies to engineering clubs and sports teams. Ministers say the programme is designed to support young people's mental health by reducing pressure and providing structured activities – an aim backed up by a Department for Education survey involving over 14,000 young people.
The survey found high levels of loneliness among teenagers despite their online connectivity. To address this, Ofsted will now take into account a school's enrichment offerings when assessing its provision for personal development. The government has framed this initiative as a direct response to the challenges facing young people today.
This announcement comes as the government prepares to limit children's access to social media, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reportedly considering options such as an Australian-style ban and controls on addictive design features. A consultation on children’s online safety concluded in June, garnering over 116,000 responses – nine out of ten parents backing a ban for under-16s.
The opposition Labour Party is set to outline its own proposals, which could include restricting access to 'high-risk' social media platforms and limiting features like disappearing messages and live streaming. A ban on romantic or sexual AI chatbots for under-18s is also expected – but there are concerns about the pace of these reforms and how they will be implemented.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the funding aims to ensure that access to enriching activities is not dictated by background or income. “Every child should be able to enjoy sport and the creative arts, not just the lucky few,” she stated. However, school leaders have voiced caution – with Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, acknowledging the government's ambitions but warning that schools are already facing significant financial and staffing pressures.