Welcome to Youth Work Week 2026, the National Youth Agency’s annual celebration of the life-changing impact of youth work across the UK.
This year’s theme, Where Futures Begin, celebrates the people and places where young people grow, belong and thrive.
We’re excited to announce the theme for Youth Work Week 2026, which will be celebrated from 2 to 8 November 2026:
Where futures begin: Celebrating the people and places where young people grow, belong and thrive
This year, we’re celebrating the people, places and experiences that help young people grow, belong and thrive. From the youth worker who takes the time to listen, to the safe spaces where young people can be themselves, youth work plays a vital role in shaping futures.
About the theme
Watch and share Where Futures Begin, our Youth Work Week 2026 campaign film exploring the power of belonging, trusted relationships and the difference youth work can make in a young person’s life.
Through the story of a young person struggling to find their place, the film shows how youth work can be a catalyst for positive change, helping young people build confidence, connection and a stronger sense of purpose. It aims to spark conversations about the impact of youth work and the role it plays in shaping futures.
“Where futures begin” highlights how every young person’s journey is influenced by the relationships they build, the environments they feel part of and the opportunities they’re given.
Youth work creates space for young people to:
- Build confidence and discover their strengths
- Develop meaningful relationships and connections
- Explore their identity, values and ambitions
- Take part in their communities and shape the world around them
This theme recognises that futures don’t develop in isolation – they are nurtured through support, belonging and opportunity.
BBC Radio 1Xtra presenter and Raise Your Voice author Nadia Jae visited The HIVE, Catch22’s youth wellbeing hub in Camden, as part of Youth Work Week 2026, to meet young people and hear directly about their experiences, ambitions and hopes for the future.
Looking ahead to November
From 2-8 November 2026, organisations, practitioners and young people across the country will come together to celebrate the impact of youth work.
Youth Work Week will be a chance to:
- Share stories of the people and places that shape young lives
- Highlight the incredible work happening in communities
- Champion the role of youth workers and trusted adults
- Showcase how youth work helps young people build positive futures
Help us tell the story
Sharing your stories is a key part of Youth Work Week. By posting on social media, you can help raise awareness of the impact of youth work and ensure young people’s experiences are seen and understood.
Whether it’s a story about a trusted youth worker or a snapshot of the spaces where young people belong, every post helps build a national picture of where futures begin.
We’ll be encouraging everyone to share content during the week using #YouthWorkWeek2026, helping to amplify the sector’s voice and increase recognition of the life-changing youth work happening every day.
Please be aware
We want to share as much of your Youth Work Week content as possible this year, but please be mindful that we are now taking a digital safeguarding-first approach to sharing content featuring young people’s faces. We look forward to seeing content produced by your young people, or content featuring young people which is presented in such a way as to keep their faces / identities protected and less at risk of online harm or AI manipulation.
Join us
Youth Work Week 2026 is an opportunity to come together as a sector to celebrate, amplify and advocate for youth work.
Because every future starts somewhere.
And for so many young people, that future begins with youth work.
