Everyone seems to be talking about enrichment at present. As we wrap-up party conference season, it’s clear it’s a topic that has moved from the margins to the mainstream. Policymakers, educators and employers are all recognising that what happens beyond the classroom is fundamental to preparing young people for an uncertain future. There’s a NEET crisis and growing feelings of disconnection and loneliness. That means having access to enrichment – non-formal learning activities that support a young person’s social, emotional and personal development, and develop skills for life and work – matters more than ever. For a young person preparing to go into the world of work or further education, helping them understand what they are good at, find their passion and purpose, take on real-world challenges and learn through experience with support from a trusted adult, is crucial. We’ve understood the transformative power of enrichment for the past 70 years, and every day we see how enrichment experiences help young people to build the essential, human skills and relationships they need to thrive in life and work. Skills such as confidence, resilience, communication and adaptability and the vital human connections that forge friendships and cement belonging. For many young people, enrichment is also more than an opportunity to have fun and make friends. It is often the thing that helps them reconnect with education, volunteer to help others or discover an unknown talent. What DofE can do Pupils like Harvey, 16, from Norwich, where 40 per cent of pupils at his school are eligible for pupil premium funding. Thanks to our resilience fund he was able to take part in DofE, saying: “School’s changed a lot for me because I actually enjoy whenever I have DofE for the day. “For my skills I’m doing reading and I’ve realised I’m not that bad. Before I’d never even try and now I’m confident to read a couple of pages of a book.” Another DofE participant from Leicester, who struggled academically in school, but discovered a love for childcare through her DofE volunteering at a local church group, is now working as a Norland nanny. That kind of impact on a young person’s life trajectory is priceless. These stories are common. DofE’s impact report, which analysed more than 40,000 responses from young people before, during and after achieving a DofE award, found that participants experienced: Improvements in life satisfaction, happiness and feelings of doing things in life that are worthwhile Improvements in confidence, problem-solving, emotional management, resilience and initiative An increase in levels of physical activity, and increased trust in their local area, feeling that they belong in their communities and agency That’s why enrichment needs to be a foundational experience for all young people, not a nice-to-have or an add-on. The government has taken a major step by committing to an enrichment entitlement and to halving the enrichment gap. Targeted investment However, for an enrichment entitlement to be truly transformative, we need to see targeted investment that helps schools and youth organisations reach young people facing the biggest barriers to participation. For too long, access has depended on luck: where you live, the school you attend, or your family’s ability to pay. If the government is serious about opportunity, it should guarantee every young person at least 80 hours of high-quality enrichment each year, backed by targeted funding for those facing the greatest barriers to participation. But we know it takes a village to raise a child, so this is not just a job for government. DofE is proud to be a founding member of the Enrichment for All Coalition with Oasis, whose founder Steve Chalke is now the government’s enrichment ambassador. He has the task of helping to create practical, achievable opportunities for children and young people across the whole country to participate and lead in their communities. His first initiative is “We Are United”, designed to bring local business, faith and civic leaders together over a shared celebratory Christmas meal, prepared and hosted by pupils in a local school. It aims to create partnerships that will develop from that meeting to make enrichment a reality for all. As a member of the DofE network said to me recently, “enrichment is equivalent to taking your daily vitamins – it protects and energises you, so you can take on whatever life throws at you”. Every young person deserves that chance. Find out how your school can be part of We Are United this Christmas at peopleunite.org.uk