Aiming High for Young People - 3 years on

The focus of Aiming high was to increase young people’s participation in positive leisure-time activities, supported by strong evidence which showed how getting involved can help teenagers to develop important social and communication skills, build their self-esteem and self-confidence, improve their attitudes to school and help them avoid taking risks such as experimenting with drugs, or being involved in crime or anti-social behaviour.

This document outlines the achievements so far against the three main Aiming High principles: Empowerment; Access and inclusion; Capacity and quality. It also reiterates the case for focusing on the development of social and emotional skills through participation in positive activities.

It sets out how the Government intends to support local authorities to sustain services for all young people and to make the best use of the funding available and ensure they reach out to more teenagers in need. It also discusses how important changes to services for young people will affect the future delivery of the commitments in Aiming high.