Every Child Can: A Major Opportunity for Young People — But We Must Make Sure No One Is Left Behind
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Every Child Can: A Step in the Right Direction for Young People
The Government has announced an ambitious new £132.5 million programme called Every Child Can, designed to ensure every young person has access to enriching activities that help build confidence, skills, resilience, and stronger connections with their communities.
The programme aims to tackle growing concerns around social isolation, declining wellbeing, and unequal access to opportunities by investing in activities across:
- Sport and physical activity
- Arts and culture
- Nature and outdoor learning
- Civic engagement
- Life and future skills, including STEM and employability skills
For organisations like Genuine Futures, this announcement is encouraging because it recognises something we have been saying for years:
Young people need more than qualifications. They need experiences, opportunities, trusted adults, and places where they belong.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
The Government’s own research found that despite being the most digitally connected generation in history, many young people are experiencing unprecedented levels of loneliness and isolation.
Young people told policymakers they wanted:
Safe spaces
Trusted adults
Better mental health support
More opportunities to develop skills
More activities in their local communities
These findings mirror what we hear every week from the young people we support through Genuine Futures.
Many of the young people who come through our programmes have spent months or even years disconnected from education, employment, training, or community life.
Some have been excluded from school.
Some have struggled with mental health challenges.
Others simply feel forgotten by the systems designed to support them.
The challenge is not that young people lack potential.
The challenge is that too many young people lack opportunity.
The Link Between Enrichment and Better Outcomes
Research consistently shows that enrichment activities improve educational outcomes, wellbeing, confidence, and future employment prospects.
Young people involved in:
- Sports clubs are more likely to progress into education or employment.
- Arts and cultural activities are more likely to continue into higher education.
- Community projects are more likely to develop leadership and social skills.
- Outdoor learning helps build confidence, resilience, and teamwork.
These experiences develop the very skills employers increasingly value:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Confidence
- Adaptability
For many young people, these experiences can be life-changing.
Genuine Futures Has Been Delivering This Approach for Years
While the Every Child Can programme is a welcome national initiative, community organisations across the country have already been delivering these outcomes on the ground.
At Genuine Futures, our programmes are built around the belief that learning happens everywhere—not just in classrooms.
Through our flagship Boss Your Future programme, young people gain access to:
- Enterprise and business projects
- Employability and life skills training
- Outdoor activities and experiences
- Workplace visits and employer engagement
- Creative opportunities
- Volunteering and social action
- Community-based projects
- Youth voice activities
- Mentoring and trusted adult support
We have seen first-hand what happens when young people are given opportunities and someone who believes in them.
Young people who were once isolated and disengaged are now:
- Returning to education
- Starting businesses
- Finding employment
- Volunteering in their communities
- Becoming positive role models for others
The Importance of Trusted Adults
One of the strongest messages within the Government’s announcement is the importance of trusted adults.
The wider National Youth Strategy aims to connect hundreds of thousands more young people with a trusted adult outside their home.
This is something we strongly support.
Many young people do not need another assessment, referral form, or intervention plan.
They need someone who will listen.
Someone who believes in them.
Someone who will consistently show up.
At Genuine Futures, we often say:
“It Starts With Listening.”
Before young people can engage in education, employment, or training, they often need to feel heard.
That simple human connection can be transformational.
Preventing NEET Before It Happens
One of the most significant opportunities within the Every Child Can programme is its potential to prevent young people from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
The UK is currently facing a growing NEET crisis, with more than one million young people aged 16–24 estimated to be outside education, employment, or training.
Many young people become NEET not because they lack ability, but because they become disconnected from opportunities.
Enrichment activities can act as an early intervention by helping young people:
- Build confidence
- Develop social connections
- Discover new interests
- Improve attendance
- Strengthen wellbeing
- Raise aspirations
The earlier these opportunities are available, the greater the chance of preventing future exclusion, disengagement, and unemployment.
At Genuine Futures, we see this every day.
Prevention is always more effective—and far less costly—than crisis intervention.
A Chance to End the Postcode Lottery
One of the most important aspects of the Every Child Can programme is its commitment to reducing the postcode lottery that currently exists across England.
Too often, access to activities depends on:
- Where a young person lives
- Their family’s income
- The school they attend
- Whether transport is available
- The availability of local youth services
This creates inequality from an early age.
Every young person deserves access to opportunities that help them thrive, regardless of their background.
For communities like Bolton and many others across the country, this investment has the potential to make a real difference if resources reach grassroots organisations already working directly with young people.
Schools Cannot Do This Alone
Schools play a vital role, but they cannot solve every challenge facing young people on their own.
The most successful enrichment programmes happen when schools, community organisations, youth groups, businesses, local authorities, and volunteers work together.
Community organisations bring:
- Local knowledge
- Trusted relationships
- Lived experience
- Flexible support
- Innovative approaches
- Strong community connections
These are often the organisations best placed to engage young people who have become disconnected from traditional services.
The Government’s commitment to working alongside community partners is therefore a critical part of making this vision successful.
Our View: The Future Looks Promising — But Delivery Matters
The Every Child Can programme represents one of the most positive announcements for young people in recent years.
It recognises that childhood should not be defined solely by exams and academic outcomes.
Young people need opportunities to explore, create, lead, connect, and grow.
However, success will depend on how effectively these opportunities reach the young people who need them most.
The challenge now is ensuring investment reaches communities, schools, youth organisations, and social enterprises already making a difference on the ground.
At Genuine Futures, we welcome the Government’s commitment to enrichment, trusted adults, youth development, and breaking down barriers to opportunity.
These are not luxuries.
They are essential foundations for helping young people build brighter futures.
A Seat at the Table
As a lived-experience-led organisation supporting young people across Bolton and Greater Manchester, we believe organisations like Genuine Futures have an important role to play in shaping the future of youth support.
We have seen what works.
We have seen the consequences when support comes too late.
And we have seen how one opportunity, one trusted adult, or one conversation can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.
As new funding opportunities emerge through Every Child Can, we hope decision-makers will listen to the voices of young people, grassroots organisations, and communities already delivering impact.
Because real change happens when policy meets lived experience.
Official Government Announcement
This article is based on the UK Government’s announcement regarding the Every Child Can programme and the new Enrichment Framework.
Read the full Government press release here:
Every Child to Get Access to Enriching Activities to Build Skills and Confidence for Life
About Genuine Futures
Genuine Futures supports young people aged 15–24 through mentoring, employability training, enterprise education, youth voice projects, outdoor learning, and community-based programmes including:
- Boss Your Future
- R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Young Futures
- Clean Futures
- We Shine Any Car
Our mission is simple:
Bridging the Gap to Opportunity
Because every young person deserves:
Someone who believes in them
Somewhere they belong
Something meaningful to aspire to
The opportunity to discover what they are capable of
The future of our communities depends on the opportunities we create for young people today.
