Youth workers play a vital role in supporting young people through the pandemic & in their futures. The right support is key to preventing negative outcomes later such as long-term unemployment, mental & physical health difficulties or criminal activity.

A #RethinkLocal thread

Figures reveal only a small number of eligible youngsters are taking part in the Government’s #NationalCitizenService, despite £1.26 billion of government investment.

The scheme has seen a low take up with just 1 in 6 young people taking part. In the last year the scheme has seen an 8% fall in participants from 100,000 in 2018 to 92,000 in 2019.

At the same time, locally run Youth Services have been significantly scaled back. Councils have been forced to cut spending on local youth services from £1.4 billion in 2010/2011 to £429 million as a result of government funding cuts.

More than 750 youth centres have closed and 4,500 Youth Work jobs have been lost during this period.

While the #NationalCitizenService is a good programme for 16 to 17-year-olds which can be a positive experience, this short 2-4 week programme can't replace year-round provision for young people of all ages.

Youth Workers will have a particular role to play in supporting young people struggling to find employment during the pandemic and to make positive life choices.

The Government’s £500 million Youth Investment Fund announced over a year ago, should be made available as soon as possible, if we are to help prevent young people from becoming a lost generation as we enter a second lockdown.

As we celebrate #YouthWorkWeek we are calling for the Government to devolve some funding from the #NationalCitizenService to local councils to help make up some lost funding & reverse some of the cuts in local youth services.

#NCASC20 @ncasc20

Read more: https://www.local.gov.uk/lga-devolve-national-citizen-service-funding-local-youth-services