A compelling short film, ‘Where Futures Begin’, created by the National Youth Agency, kick starts Youth Work Week 2026 (from 2 – 8 Tachwedd), shining a spotlight on the value and impact of youth work, the need for more youth workers, and better recognition of youth workers’ particular skills.
This year’s Youth Work Week theme, ‘Where Futures Begin: celebrating the people and places where young people grow, belong and thrive’, aims to provide a moment for everyone in the sector to shine a light on youth work’s impact, champion youth workers’ expertise and inspire more people to explore youth work as a rewarding career.
‘Where Futures Begin’, follows a boy struggling to fit in and disengaging from school, showing how youth work helps him find belonging, build confidence and discover new possibilities for his future. It also features a cameo appearance from youth worker and TEDx speaker Duke Harrison-Hunter. For Duke, youth work is not about rescuing young people or deciding their future for them.
”Youth work is about working alongside young people, creating a safe and inclusive space in which they are heard, treated with dignity and supported to exercise agency over their own lives. It means helping them pause, recognise their options and make informed choices that move them towards the person they want to become.”
Duke Harrison-HunterYouth worker and TEDx speaker
The NYA has created a free discussion guide and session plan to support youth workers (and others who work with young people) to explore key themes in the film such as belonging, confidence, trusted relationships and future aspirations.
The ‘Where Futures Begin’ campaign is being backed by BBC Radio 1Xtra breakfast presenter, Nadia Jae, who spoke about the importance of youth work at a recent visit to The Hive youth wellbeing hub in Camden, where she met young people, and found out about their aspirations for the future and shared her advice on how to follow their passions and believe in themselves.
”Without youth clubs and the adults who supported me, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Youth workers help young people build confidence, discover their strengths and believe in their future. Some young people are closer to their youth workers than they are to anybody, which is why the work they do is so important and deserves far greater recognition. We can't just have school and home. Young people need safe spaces where they can be themselves, explore opportunities and build confidence."
Nadia JaeBBC Radio 1Xtra Presenter, Broadcaster and Author
The Hive is an integrated health and mental health service for young people aged 16 to 24. It is jointly funded and commissioned by the London Borough of Camden and the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust / Integrated Care System and delivered by Catch22, a non-profit social business. The Hive‘s services have been designed by a Young People’s Board and operates as a “one-stop shop” integrating non-clinical youth work with targeted professional interventions. Young people can access one-to-one mentoring and emotional wellbeing support, alongside practical advice on jobs, apprenticeships and career development, with links to specialist services where needed. Its drop-in social hub offers free music, drama and fitness activities, food, Wi-Fi and study space — somewhere to connect, build confidence and explore new opportunities.
”The Hive gives young people in Camden a third space where we can relax, be ourselves and look after our mental health. It’s somewhere you can meet new people, try new things and go on trips that take you out of your comfort zone. The staff are always there to support us when things get difficult, which can help stop things reaching crisis point.”
Sami, 23Attendee of The Hive
Council-run youth centres in England more than halved between 2011–12 and 2022–23 following funding cuts, with an estimated 4,500 youth workers leaving the sector. Renewed investment and policy changes now recognise youth workers’ role in connecting young people with statutory services and providing safe, welcoming spaces. The NYA’s new qualification pathway aims to make entry into the sector more accessible and upskill the existing workforce.
Youth Work Week 2026 comes as the government’s National Youth Strategy approaches its first anniversary, with a commitment to invest in 1,000 specialist youth practitioners and an expansion to the Youth Futures Hubs programme. Alongside the Milburn Review, these developments put a spotlight on early intervention and practical support to help young people build confidence, develop interpersonal skills and move towards education, training and employment.
”Every young person should have access to great youth work, wherever they live. Youth workers build trusted relationships, help young people grow in confidence and open doors to positive futures. This is highly skilled work, and we must invest in the people who make it possible. Building back the workforce is just part of the solution. We must also raise awareness of youth work as a profession and ensure youth workers receive the recognition their skills, expertise and contribution deserve.
“Skilled in providing early support for young people struggling with their mental health, or who may not be in school, in an unhealthy relationship, or at risk of violence, youth workers are pivotal to the solutions for giving our young people their futures back. Our ‘Where Futures Begin’ campaign celebrates the impact we know youth workers make – but which is all too often invisible – and calls for the recognition and sustained investment that is needed in the sector.”
Abbee McLatchieInterim Chief Executive, NYA
As part of Youth Work Week, youth workers, policymakers, sector leaders and young people will come together at a Parliamentary Summit, on the 3 Tachwedd, to discuss the future of youth work and its role in supporting young people across England.
The Summit will provide an opportunity to celebrate the contribution youth workers make every day while exploring how the sector can continue to support young people facing challenges including poor mental health, isolation, exploitation, unemployment and discrimination. Young people’s voices and experiences will sit at the heart of the discussion, alongside conversations about the future of youth work and its growing importance in helping young people access trusted relationships and positive opportunities.
Online events and learning opportunities are being held throughout the week covering careers in the screen industries; democratic education; employability skills; filmmaking; and the role of youth work in supporting young people’s identity, belonging and spirituality. The programme brings together expert speakers, practitioners and partners from across the sector, providing opportunities to learn, share ideas and celebrate the impact of youth work.
