State of Play

Local authority funding for youth service sees biggest annual cut in almost a decade, new YMCA analysis reveals

The amount spent on youth services by local authorities in England and Wales has fallen by 10% in a single year, marking the largest annual reduction since 2016–17, according to new analysis published by YMCA England & Wales.

YMCA’s annual report into youth service funding, sponsored by Vestey Holdings, shows that councils in England spent £419 million on services for young people in 2024–25, a sharp year-on-year fall that comes at a critical moment for national policy on youth provision.

Over the past 14 years, local authority funding for youth services in England has fallen by 76% in real terms, representing a loss of £1.3 billion since 2010–11. In Wales, spending has declined by 29% over the same period, and, comparatively, over the past year, spending has fallen slightly in real terms to £46 million, continuing a long-term downward trend.

The analysis shows that part of the 2024–25 reduction is linked to changes in how councils report expenditure*. However, the majority of the decline reflects real financial pressure on councils. While 45% of local authorities increased spending on youth services, the 81 councils that reduced funding did so sharply, with an average cut of 33% and a median reduction of 15%.

Looking at local authority spend per head, YMCA St Paul’s Youth Project found that over the past 14 years, there has been a decrease across all the boroughs in which we work and support young people. Slough has seen a 100% decrease to £0, Hillingdon a 58% decrease to £78.60, Harrow a 74% decrease to £37.61, Ealing an 81% decrease to £42.71 and Waltham Forest a decrease of 18% to £90.91.

Richard James, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA St Paul’s Group, said:

For those of us working directly with young people, these cuts are not abstract figures — they translate into fewer safe spaces, reduced support, and lost opportunities. At YMCA St Paul’s Youth Project we see first-hand how vital consistent youth provision is, particularly for those facing disadvantage. Sustained reductions in local authority funding make it harder for projects like ours to meet growing need and to provide the stability young people rely on.

 

YMCA, which has been tracking youth services spend over the past seven years, says this pattern highlights how youth services — which are discretionary rather than statutory — are increasingly being squeezed as councils struggle to meet rising demand and costs across adult social care, housing, children’s services and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The latter two sit within the same education budgets as youth services, but are legal obligations that councils must prioritise, leaving this vital service vulnerable.

The report comes shortly after the Government published its long-awaited National Youth Strategy for England, signalling renewed ambition to rebuild youth provision, strengthen the workforce and take a place-based approach to supporting young people. YMCA has welcomed the direction of travel set out in the strategy, but warns that the scale of funding loss means delivery will be challenging without sustained investment.

Despite modest increases in the number of council-employed youth workers over the past year, workforce capacity also remains far below historic levels. Since 2012–13, England has lost around half of its local authority youth workers, while Wales has seen a 45% reduction. At the same time, the number of local authority-run youth centres in England fell by 11% in a single year, with one in twelve councils now reporting no youth centres at all.

Richard James, Chief Executive Officer YMCA St Paul’s Group, says we see every day why this data matters:

Our YMCA St Paul’s Youth Project youth workers are supporting young people through complex challenges, creating safe places to grow, and offering the guidance and opportunities that transform lives. The national data tells a tough story, yet our teams continue to deliver impact, hope, and connection where it’s needed most.