About the programme
The Local Youth Transformation Programme (LYTP) is a national pilot funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by the National Youth Agency (NYA) in partnership with UK Youth, Regional Youth Work Units (RYWUs), Young People Foundation Trusts, and StreetGames.
Working with 12 local authorities across England, the LYTP aims to rebuild a high-quality, needs-led youth offer and re-establish strong local leadership in youth services.
The selected local authorities are Knowsley, Shropshire, Southwark, Oxfordshire, Doncaster, Liverpool, Peterborough, Hartlepool, Derbyshire, Stoke, Cornwall, and Islington. These areas were chosen through a mini-Expression of Interest (EOI) competition, agreed by Ministers to reflect the small size of the pilot and reduce administrative burden. Within each region, local authorities with the highest levels of young people living in families suffering from income deprivation (as measured by IDACI) were invited to submit an EOI. These submissions were then reviewed by DCMS to understand the motivations for participation and the potential benefits for both the local authority and youth provision.
Through a structured review process, each council will assess current provision, identify gaps, and co-develop a plan for long-term transformation.
The programme runs until March 2026 and focuses on nine essential themes including youth engagement, safeguarding, workforce development, use of the NYA Youth Work Curriculum, and quality of youth work practice. It is a unique opportunity to shape the future of youth services and ensure that young people’s voices are central to local decision-making.
