YMCA detached youth work project bridges gap left by youth cuts

An evaluation of the charity’s Better Futures project warns that the withdrawal of youth services from some areas is isolating the most disadvantaged and increasing the need for intensive street-based support.

However, it claims that reductions in youth centre numbers are making it difficult for youth workers to provide long-term support once initial contact has been made.

The Better Futures project, launched by YMCA England in October 2013 with a £300,000 grant from the Clothworkers' Foundation, targets 10- to 25-year-olds from some of the most deprived areas of North Tyneside, Sutton Coldfield and south east London.

Under the scheme, two part-time YMCA youth workers from each of the three areas spend three evenings a week out on the streets making contact with young people who they think could benefit from the charity’s support.

The aim is to target young people who are not yet receiving support from local services but are likely to become involved in gangs or put themselves at risk in some other way.

During the first year of the project, the street-based teams made contact with 403 young people – the majority of which, 229, were aged between 14 and 18.

The evaluation report warns that the figures are indicative of the growing need for street-based support.

It states: “As a result of further reduction in services to children, young people and families through local and national funding cuts more and more children, young people and families in the most deprived areas of the country will feel unsupported and isolated with little or no affordable activities.”