PRESS RELEASE: National Saturday Club publishes its 2025–26 Annual Review

More Saturday Clubs than ever opened across England, Scotland and Wales last year, and the charity’s new review shows the difference they make to young people’s confidence, skills and plans for the future.

The National Saturday Club has published its Annual Review for 2025–26, bringing together research, evaluation and stories from former members to show the reach and impact of the programme over the past year.

The National Saturday Club gives young people the chance to study creative and practical subjects free of charge on Saturdays at colleges, universities and cultural institutions near them, with professionals from the industry joining them through masterclasses.

The year in numbers

• 129 Saturday Clubs in 99 locations, covering eight subjects
• 2,267 young people supported by 380 tutors and coordinators
• 79 masterclasses with industry professionals

The review also shows how the programme reaches young people who might otherwise miss out. Of the Club members:

• 82% came from widening participation backgrounds, groups that are under-represented in further and higher education
• 43% were not taking part in any other activities outside school

The impact was clear to members and their families:

• 84% of members noticed that their skills had improved
• 75% had a better understanding of the study and learning options open to them
• 69% said attending had improved their outlook on the future
• 92% of parents and guardians said their child was more willing to try new things
• 87% said their child was more confident

“Every Saturday is a moment where you stand up as yourself,” said one Club member at Bracknell and Wokingham College, part of Activate Learning. “It is a moment where you are confident to tell your view to everyone.”

Other highlights from the year included the expansion of the national Saturday Club Visit to four cities, the end of the Youth Board’s two-year term, and new funding from the BFI that secures the Film&Screen Saturday Club for another three years.

The charity says the findings show why fair access to education outside school matters, and how the programme supports national priorities on opportunity, skills and social mobility.

Applications open

Applications are now open for the 2026–27 programme, with more than 130 Saturday Clubs running this year. Young people can find and apply to their local Club on the National Saturday Club website.

Find out more: saturday-club.org