Why it matters: The initiative aims to improve access to sport, culture, volunteering and other activities, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
What’s next: Work with participating schools will begin in January 2027 and continue until March 2029.
Manor Abbey School, Discovery Academy and St Peter's C of E Academy have all confirmed their participation in the Enrichment Expansion Programme, a major investment being delivered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in partnership with the Department for Education.
The programme will support 400 mainstream, special and alternative provision schools across England, helping them strengthen and expand the range of activities available to pupils both during and beyond the school day.
The initiative is designed to ensure more young people can access opportunities that help them discover new interests, develop confidence, learn new skills and foster a sense of belonging. It comes in response to evidence showing participation in enrichment activities is often lowest among disadvantaged young people and those with special educational needs.
Schools taking part will receive support from the Youth Sport Trust and its partners to enhance their enrichment offer, respond to pupil voice and choice, and develop stronger partnerships with local sports clubs, charities, community groups and cultural organisations.
Work with participating schools will begin in January 2027 and continue until March 2029.
Gareth Snell, Labour and Co-operative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, welcomed the news.
Gareth said:
"I am delighted that Manor Abbey School, Discovery Academy and St Peter's C of E Academy have all confirmed their participation in this exciting national programme.
“Every young person deserves the chance to take part in activities that inspire them, help them build confidence and discover new talents. Whether through sport, music, volunteering or outdoor pursuits, these experiences can have a lasting impact on a young person's future.
"This investment will help ensure that more young people in Stoke-on-Trent can access high-quality opportunities, develop important life skills and build strong connections within their communities.”
The Enrichment Expansion Programme also supports the Government's ambition, set out in Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy, to halve the participation gap in enriching activities between disadvantaged young people and their peers by 2035.
With all three schools now signed up, pupils across Stoke-on-Trent Central will benefit from enhanced opportunities to participate in a wider range of enriching activities over the next two years.
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