McDonalds and BBC Children In Need will double their commitment to fund training for youth workers.

While they had previously planned to fund 500 youth work qualifications this has now been doubled to 1,000.

The fast food chain says it has made the commitment as one of the UK’s largest employers of young people. It has partnered with the charity since 2021.

“The pivotal role that youth workers play in the lives of young people and the importance of meeting them where they are -both figuratively, and physically – cannot be understated,” said BBC Children in Need chief executive Simon Antrobus.

“We know that training is essential to fuelling the critical work that youth workers deliver, yet it is so hard to access.

“Which is why we are delighted to announce our renewed commitment to deliver over 1000 training qualifications for youth workers across the UK, towards a skilled and sustainable workforce for the critical sector.”

This partnership has already included the launch of its Makin’ It campaign to give young people greater access to youth services and to recognised the “unique ability of youth workers” in engaging with young people.

So far 180 McDonald’s fast-food outlets have partnered with local youth services. It aims to increase this to 1,500 outlets.

One of these local level partnerships is between youth organisation Spiral Skills and the fast-food chain’s Brixton brand, to create a space for young people to gather in the restaurant after school. Spiral Skills has also benefited from McDonald’s funding training for its youth workers.

Spiral Skills chief executive Joel Balkwill said: “The funding from McDonald’s through BBC Children in Need is vital for us to make our work sustainable and long term.

“It means we can have a constant presence in McDonald’s, so young people know they can come to McDonald’s and know there will be someone there to support them with their future.”

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