UK Youth urges Chancellor to use Budget to invest in youth services

Jeremy Hunt has been urged to invest in youth services when he reveals his spring budget this week.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will take to the Commons Despatch Box on March 6 to reveal his Government’s spending plans over the coming months.

National youth work charity UK Youth has urged Mr Hunt to support youth services.

A UK Youth spokesperson said: “We would like to see the Government investing in youth services to ensure provision can continue and expand to be available for all young people. Investment in the workforce is also vital to ensure youth workers are equipped to respond to the changing needs of young people.

“The Chancellor has a real opportunity to invest in young people, creating a return on investment for society, alongside ensuring all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We need to unlock youth work for all.”

UK Youth’s previous Untapped research shows youth work is currently saving the taxpayer billions of pounds each year. The report, delivered with Frontier Economics, shows that for every £1 government invests in youth work, the benefit to the taxpayer is at least £3.20 and could be up to £6.40. According to the Government’s own benchmarks, this return on investment is considered ‘high’ or even ‘very high’. Investment in youth services is necessary for society.

Frontier Economics estimates the direct economic value of the youth work sector in England to be £5.7 billion. On top of this they have found that the total indirect value of the youth work sector is £3.2bn to the country, including £0.5bn from decreased crime, £1.7bn from improved health, and £0.8bn from increased employment and education.

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 8,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org

UK Youth is involved in various programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability, including Hatch, a youth employability programme run in partnership with KFC. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes