The money is to be allocated over the next three years to help schoolsprovide accessible wraparound services.
The 18 areas are: St Helens, Oldham, Gateshead, Redcar and Cleveland,East Riding, Rotherham, Wolverhampton, Warwickshire, Derby City,Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Luton, Somerset, Wiltshire, Croydon, Newham,Oxfordshire and Portsmouth.
Ms Hughes said that the funding would provide genuine opportunities foryoung people in services including breakfast clubs, out-of-hours tuitionand after-school clubs in sport, music and drama.
'As summer approaches, I urge all local authorities to redouble theirefforts to consult with young people and actively promote activities tothem,' she said. 'We need to focus our attention on areas where there ishigh incidence of anti-social behaviour by young people and also helpmarginalised young people overcome the barriers they face toparticipation.'
The announcement coincided with the publication of an Ipsos Mori surveywhich found that 98 per cent of schools were providing after-schoolactivities.
Other findings showed 86 per cent of schools offering after-school and70 per cent breakfast childcare. Funding is still seen by schools as thekey barrier to the development and delivery of services, especially inrelation to childcare.
- Further information: The Mori report is available athttp://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/pnattach/20080139/3.pdf.
