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Rural areas hardest hit by youth work cuts, NYA warns

2 mins read Youth Work
Cuts to youth work services in rural areas have left young people at risk of grooming from criminal gangs, poor mental health and a lack of employment support, according to a new report.
A lack of provision could lead to poor mental health and reduced employment opportunities, research says. Picture: Adobe Stock
A lack of provision could lead to poor mental health and reduced employment opportunities, research says. Picture: Adobe Stock

Some 2.25 million young people living in rural areas of England have been hardest hit by a £1bn drop in local authority funding for youth work over the last decade, Overlooked, the latest report by the National Youth Agency (NYA) finds.

Spending per head on funding for services for 11- to 19-year-olds in rural areas is just £47 compared with £108 a decade ago.

Despite similar cuts to funding, the average spend per head on young people in urban areas is £62 compared with £158 in 2011.

“There is little or no youth provision in many rural areas,” said Leigh Middleton, chief executive of the NYA.

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