Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.

In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.

DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.

The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.

To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.

DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.

There are no plans to change the scope of the Turing Scheme, including the sectors in which it operates. The Turing Scheme is global by design and has supported placements in over 160 countries. The Turing Scheme already provides inclusion support through extra funding for students with special educational needs and disabilities, additional support needs (in Scotland) and additional learning needs (in Wales). The government keeps the scope of the Turing Scheme under review, and decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.

Our association to Erasmus+ will open up opportunities for learners, educators, young people and communities. It is an investment in opportunity for our young people, our workforce and our future, opening doors for tens of thousands across the UK.

Through the National Youth Strategy, the government has committed to support more trusted adults to safely engage with and guide young people when and where they need it most.

Whilst our work to increase access to trusted adults will be broader than work-readiness coaching, we expect it to achieve positive education and employment outcomes for young people. Further details on the scope of DCMS activities and programmes will be published in due course.

More widely, the government has set out a major plan of investment to increase work readiness for young people who are not in education, employment or training. Over the next four years, we are investing £820 million in an expanded Youth Guarantee to give young people the opportunity to gain the essential skills and valuable experience they need.

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The Conservatives presided over a lost decade for our young people. I am determined to support every young person to reach their potential. That is why we are delivering the first national youth strategy for 15 years: to transform youth services, backed by over £500 million. That means more youth workers, more youth centres and a network of 50 Young Futures hubs, on top of our youth job guarantee and our plan to create 50,000 more apprenticeships. We are building a Britain for the next generation.

Q8

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Josh Dean (Hertford and Stortford) (Lab):

Of the almost 1 million young people not in education, employment or training, hundreds of thousands are disconnected from the system entirely. Youth workers have a unique ability to bridge young people into support. I would not be stood here today if I had not been supported by a youth worker called Russell when I dropped out of school. Will the Prime Minister use the national youth strategy to deliver a shared long-term vision for young people’s outcomes, with good work as a central pillar, and youth workers and trusted adults at its heart?

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential.

We have not made an assessment of the potential impact of youth workers on costs for the NHS or other relevant public bodies, instead, we utilise the wealth of external research indicating the positive impact youth work and youth services can have on young people’s health and other outcomes, including helping to reduce costs for a range of public services.

The new National Youth Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working and driving efficiencies - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts.

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. We know the impact that youth work has on young people’s life chances, including on their wellbeing and their employment outcomes. That is why we are co-producing an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, with young people, sector experts and cross-government colleagues.

The Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts. We will publish the Strategy in the Autumn.

This Government recognises the vital role that youth workers play in the lives of young people. In 2024-25, we provided over £600,000 of bursary funding to support over 400 individuals from underrepresented groups to gain a youth work qualification.

In a written ministerial statement on 15 May 2025, the Secretary of State announced DCMS's commitment to provide over £3 million in the financial year 2025-26 to increase youth sector and workforce capacity, this includes a further £250,000 in bursary funding to support up to 160 individuals to gain a qualification, and funding to the National Youth Agency to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum to ensure a sufficiently qualified and trained youth work workforce.

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area. Local Authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Finance Settlement in line with local need. To support Local Authorities, we launched the £8 million Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities across the country to build back capability to improve local youth offers. The selected local authorities for the pilot include a mix of urban and rural areas.

In addition, we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy. The strategy will support better coordination of youth services across the country and will increase access to opportunities, in particular in underserved areas. The Strategy will be published in Autumn and will be supported by funding, across the SR period to develop new youth facilities and improve existing ones, as well as further funding to support local youth service provision.

DCMS is leading a National Youth Strategy in collaboration with a number of other key departments to set out a new long-term vision for young people and an action plan for delivering this. This strategy will cover youth services, provision and policy at local, regional and national levels. We are co-producing this National Youth Strategy with young people and cross-sector experts and so the breadth of issues will be shaped by our engagement.

The Strategy will better coordinate youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level, moving away from siloed working - ensuring we are better coordinated and more than the sum of our parts. We will publish the Strategy in the Autumn.