Youth services funding cut linked to increased risk of children's involvement in crime
Amrit Virdi
Friday, March 1, 2024
Funding for youth work services has fallen by more than 60 per cent over the past decade, with reductions in provision linked to a rise in anti-social behaviour and young people's involvement in crime, according to research commissioned by the government.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, in collaboration with UK Youth, has published its latest research on youth provisions and life outcomes, which calls for greater investment in the youth work sector.
The research highlights that young people who accessed services as teenagers were happier, healthier and more involved in the community, however local authority youth provision funding in England fell from more than £1 billion to £408.5 million between 2011 to 2021.
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Latest figures highlight council youth services at a crossroads
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Access to Youth Work: Special Report
The data also shows that those who attended youth clubs “were less likely to engage in anti-social behaviour and crime such as school truancy, drinking alcohol, taking illegal drugs or stealing”.
Youth work was seen to “target more vulnerable, disadvantaged or marginalised young people” making provision “more specialist and more reactive to address issues of crime, gangs or anti-social behaviour”.
The study also states that “following a decrease in youth expenditure in the year preceding, local authorities tend to see increased incidences of bike theft, shoplifting, possession of weapon offences, and a higher proportion of young offenders who re-offend”.
Jacob Diggle, chief impact officer at UK Youth, said: “Youth work is a proven solution to the challenges young people are facing but it is being ignored. We cannot afford not to invest in youth work. Youth work is setting young people up for life.
"These funding changes have immediate effects - hundreds of youth centres closed, thousands of youth work jobs lost, and young people less safe. As well as this short-term pain, the cost of these missed opportunities will last for decades.
"The government's youth guarantee promises all young people safe places go, meaningful things to do, and experiences to develop and give back to their communities. We need the investment to make this guarantee a reality.”
The study also highlights that youth work has a positive effect on educational and health outcomes.
Meanwhile, a review of cases in the London borough of Croydon has highlighted how safeguarding organisations need to work with vulnerable children as early as possible to reduce the risk of them getting involved in violent incidents.
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