Croydon East MP Natasha Irons has introduced a 10-minute rule bill to Parliament that would place clear duties on councils to properly plan, deliver and resource youth services, rather than treating them as optional.
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs, Irons has invited hundreds of young people into Parliament to speak directly with policymakers and parliamentarians about the issues that affect their lives.
The bill, titled the Youth Services Bill, would strengthen the statutory duty on local authorities to provide youth services by introducing clear sufficiency benchmarks, including expectations around qualified staffing and local accessibility. This would ensure every young person has access to high-quality youth services, no matter where they live in England.
The proposal reflects Irons’ commitment to ensuring every young person can access a safe space, a trusted adult and opportunities to help them thrive.
Local authority spending on youth services fell by 73% between 2010 and 2023, leading to the closure of more than 1,000 youth centres and the loss of over 4,500 youth worker roles nationwide. As a result, universal access to youth work has disappeared from many communities.
On 10 December, the Labour Government launched its landmark 10-year National Youth Strategy. The ambitious plan – backed by £500 million – aims to give 500,000 young people access to a trusted adult and deliver up to 250 youth centres and 50 Young Futures Hubs.
Labour is regenerating the youth sector through major new investment, and Irons believes this bill will help ensure that investment translates into clear standards, accountability and properly funded local provision.
The bill is scheduled for its first reading on 17 December.
”I can’t overstate the damage that years of aggressive cuts to youth services have done to our society. Our young people are now among the unhappiest in Europe.”
“I believe youth services are essential infrastructure – like healthcare or education – that support young people’s wellbeing and future prospects. They also deliver clear economic returns. When young people are connected and well, they are less vulnerable to exploitation and crime, which benefits us all.”
“The Government’s National Youth Strategy has begun the long process of rebuilding youth services. This bill backs the government’s investment by introducing clear standards and benchmarks for delivery, as well as ensuring that young people are consulted on what youth services should look like in their communities.”
Natasha IronsMember of Parliament for Croydon East
”Every day, skilled youth workers provide trusted support that helps young people overcome challenges, grow in confidence, and realise their potential. Yet we know that too many young people still miss out on this vital support: research carried out as part of the National Youth Strategy shows that one in five young people does not have a trusted adult to turn to outside the home.
Natasha Irons’ Youth Services Bill is a vital step towards ensuring every community has high-quality, accessible youth provision, underpinned by sufficiency benchmarks and sustainable funding. As the Government rolls out its new National Youth Strategy, this bill will help ensure that youth work sits at the heart of delivery and that councils have the clarity they need to meet their duties.”
Harriet McCannDirector of Policy, Insights and External Affairs at the National Youth Agency
”This Bill is a vital step towards rebuilding youth services after more than a decade of decline. Youth work should never be optional – it is essential infrastructure that gives young people safe spaces, trusted adults and opportunities to thrive.
“By strengthening the statutory duty on local authorities and setting clear expectations for provision, this Bill would help ensure that recent national investment translates into consistent, high-quality youth services in every community. YMCA strongly welcomes this leadership and looks forward to working with parliamentarians to put youth services back on sustainable footing".
Denise HattonChief Executive at the YMCA
