Saqib Bhatti, the MP for Meriden and Solihull East, has chaired a roundtable discussion in Parliament on widening access to enrichment activities for young people.
Bhatti, who serves as Shadow Minister for Education, co-chaired the session alongside Louie French, the MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup and Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport.
According to Bhatti, the roundtable brought together organisations and sector leaders to discuss how to create more opportunities for young people, with a focus on ensuring access to experiences that help build confidence, develop skills and support young people in reaching their potential.
Writing about the event, Bhatti thanked participants for joining the discussion and sharing their views, and said he was committed to working with colleagues and partners. Mr Batti said:
“It was a pleasure to chair an enrichment roundtable in Parliament alongside my colleague, Shadow DCMS Minister Louie French MP.
“We had a productive discussion with organisations and sector leaders about how we can create more opportunities for the next generation, ensuring every young person has access to enriching experiences that help them build confidence, develop skills and fulfil their potential.
“Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their valuable insights. I’m committed to working with colleagues and partners to ensure every young person in Meriden and Solihull East and across the country, has the opportunity to thrive.”
The discussion comes amid a wider national conversation about youth services.
The government published its “Youth Matters” strategy in December 2025, the first cross-government strategy for young people in England in 15 years, backed by £500 million in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over three years.
