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- Escalating demand for youth services addressing mental health, violence and crime, and employment and skills
- More young people seek out youth workers as trusted adults
- Rising costs, shrinking budgets and low reserves is a red flag, especially for VCS
- Imminent National Youth Strategy from Government must inject long-term investment and enshrine sufficiency benchmarks in a Statutory Youth Services Act says NYA
Youth organisations across the country are fighting to keep services running at a time when young people need them most, new data reveals.
The National Youth Sector Census has uncovered alarming statistics which show youth organisations are increasingly called upon by young people to help with serious risks, including mental health, involvement in or being a victim of violence, violence against women and girls, crime and exploitation. However, approximately two-thirds of youth organisations also reported a notable rise in operating costs, and budget and funding cuts.
Published by the National Youth Agency (NYA) the Census is the most comprehensive annual survey of youth work in England, sharing insights from 1,000 youth groups, collectively supporting more than 200,000 young people.
The figures highlight three critical trends:
Escalating demand:
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- 84% of youth groups saw increased demand for services supporting mental health and well-being
- 48% saw an increase in demand to support young people at risk of involvement in violence, VAWG and/or crime
- 59% saw an increase in young people turning to them as a trusted adult/someone to talk to
- 55% saw an increase in demand for providing information, advice and guidance
- 44% of youth groups have a waiting list to access their services, with some more than six months
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Rising costs and falling budgets:
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- 68% of groups have reported an increase in operating costs
- 63% of groups have reported a decline in funding/operating budget
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Low financial resilience:
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- 1 in 3 (34%) of VCS organisations would not be able to operate as normal for longer than six months based on financial reserves
- 43% would not last a year
- Groups in areas of higher deprivation see higher demand but lower reserves
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The latest Census data reinforces the findings of the NYA’s 2025 Workforce Survey – which showed that the voluntary sector is delivering over two thirds (69%) of all youth work across England, yet there’s a significant shortage of professionally trained practitioners, and a lack of stable career pathways which is deterring new entrants, further deepening the workforce crisis.
”This data is telling. It shows young people across the country need help in the face of serious risks, but the organisations best placed to help them are at risk themselves.
We are facing a postcode lottery where youth services in some of our most deprived areas and areas of highest need are also most likely to be in financial jeopardy. Youth workers are working incredibly hard to help young people but are spending as much energy trying to keep the lights on and door open."
Leigh Middleton OBECEO National Youth Agency
Since 2010, local authorities in England have faced a £1.2 billion real-terms cut (73%) in youth service spending (Beyond the Brink, YMCA, Jan 2025), and the number of local authority-run youth centres in England has fallen by 53% between 2011–12 and 2022–23. This has led to some 4,500 youth workers leaving the sector and recruitment and retention remain major challenges (Time is Running Out report, NYA and YMCA 2021).
Despite the challenges facing the sector research from UK Youth and Frontier Economics shows that every £1 invested in youth work generates £3.20–£6.40 in social return, and it is estimated to save £500 million annually by preventing knife crime, anti-social behaviour and reducing criminal justice costs.
”The Government’s new National Youth Strategy is due to be published imminently. Working with the Government, we’ve been clear that unless Local Authorities are given the necessary resources and a clear indication of what a sufficient youth offer looks like, they will struggle to meet their Statutory Duty. Young people will lose out on the safe spaces and trusted adults they desperately need.
Youth workers are vitally important and skilled professionals providing a proven, cost-effective way to support young people’s wellbeing, prevent harm and strengthen communities. It is imperative that the Government ensures long-term, sustainable investment to build skills and capacity where the need is greatest."
Leigh Middleton OBECEO National Youth Agency
