English councils increase spending on youth services

In the 12-month period to March 2023, councils spent £422.7million on youth services, up from £409.9m the year before and the highest figure since the £455m spent in 2018/19.

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Yorkshire and Humber and London were the regions that saw the largest increase in spending over the last year, rising by 15 and 11 per cent respectively. However, the West Midlands and East of England saw the deepest spending reductions at 15 and 10 per cent respectively.

Spending on youth services in Wales stayed roughly the same over the 12 months at £45.5m, the highest level since 2013/14.

The YMCA analysis also calculated that the spend per head on youth services in England in 2022/23 was £47.79 for each child aged five to 17, just one per cent higher than the year previously and 75 per cent less than levels in 2010/11. In comparison, spending per head in Wales was £97.38, a drop of 24 per cent on levels in 2010/11. The English region with the lowest spending per head was West Midlands at £24.

However, the amount spent by councils last year is £1.1billion less than they spent on youth services in 2010/11, the first year of the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. By the end of that parliament (2014/15), spending had halved to £766m.

Denise Hatton, chief executive at YMCA England & Wales, said: “Investing in the potential of our nation's young people is critical for building a brighter future. Unfortunately, the length and nature of these funding cuts have taken their toll on youth support systems, leaving thousands without opportunities or a safe place to build confidence, connection, and valuable skills. 

“The youth sector stands ready in working together with the next government to break down departmental silos and ensure that every young person has access to the essential lifeline of universal youth services, regardless of their circumstances or locality.”

Meanwhile, the number of youth centres run by English local authorities rose for the first time in more than a decade from 398 in 2021/22 to 427 in 2022/23. There was a slight drop in Wales.

The number of full-time equivalent council-employed youth workers in England also rose to 1,626, the highest level for seven years. There was, however, a significant drop in youth workers employed by Welsh councils.

YMCA is calling for the main political parties in the lead up to this year’s general election to commit to long-term investment in youth services, establish a cross-departmental strategy for youth services and enforce a duty on local authorities to ensure that all young people can access youth services in their respective areas.

Hatton said: “Youth services are not a luxury but the bedrock of a prosperous future. Now’s our chance to envision a society where every young individual receives the support needed to thrive. It's not just an investment in youth services; it's an investment in the heart and soul of our nation's young people.”