Young people in England are set to see a dramatic revival of youth services after the government announced a £500 million investment as part of its newly published National Youth Strategy. The plan, unveiled on December 10, 2025, is being hailed as the most ambitious effort in nearly two decades to address what ministers and charities alike describe as a “decimated” sector, battered by more than a decade of cuts, closures, and chronic underinvestment.
At the heart of the strategy is a promise to build or refurbish up to 250 youth centres and launch 50 Young Futures Hubs across the country over the next four years. By 2035, the government aims for half a million young people to be paired with youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults, offering guidance on everything from online safety to mental health and career development. The initiative will focus primarily on those aged 10 to 21, with some support extending up to age 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer cast the strategy as a moral mission, stating, “As a dad and as Prime Minister, I believe it is our generation’s greatest responsibility to turn the tide on the lost decade of young kids left as collateral damage. It is our moral mission. Today, my government sets out a clear, ambitious and deliverable plan—investing in the next generation so that every child has the chance to see their talents take them as far as their ability can.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy echoed the urgency, telling BBC Breakfast that young people are “the most digitally connected but also the most isolated in generations.” She emphasized, “The challenges facing young people today are urgent and demand a major change in direction. For too long, youth policy has been an afterthought. This generation deserves better.” Nandy pointed out that many young people are “retreating into their bedrooms where they spend a lot of time online,” a trend the government hopes to reverse by investing in real-world connections and safe spaces.
The new Young Futures Hubs—set to open their doors first in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, County Durham, Nottingham, Bristol, Tower Hamlets, and Brighton and Hove by March 2026—will serve as one-stop shops for support. They will bring together youth workers, mental health professionals, and career advisors under one roof, aiming to intervene early and prevent crises before they escalate.
The strategy was shaped by voices from the ground up. Over 14,000 young people took part in the landmark ‘State of the Nation’ survey, sharing their experiences of growing up amidst the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and an always-on digital world. The survey revealed deep concerns about mental health, social isolation, and the vanishing of community spaces. According to the Office for National Statistics, 15-year-olds in the UK now spend more time on digital devices than their peers in most other OECD countries, and England ranks among the highest globally for feelings of loneliness among young people.
Sector leaders have largely welcomed the announcement, but they are quick to note that the hard work is only just beginning. Jamie Masraff, chief executive of youth charity OnSide, told Big Issue, “Youth work is proven to be life-changing, improving wellbeing, educational attainment and safety, and giving young people the confidence and skills they need for life and work. Yet despite these clear benefits, youth provision has faced more than a decade of underinvestment and is too often treated as an afterthought. If we want positive childhoods for all, this must change.”
Rosie Ferguson OBE, CEO of UK Youth, described the strategy as a “landmark moment,” but cautioned, “Fifteen years of cuts have left deep scars—this strategy is an important first step towards healing, but true recovery will require sustained commitment.” The YMCA also welcomed the investment, with a spokesperson saying, “This is a good start at repairing the damage, but elements of this are only a fraction of what was lost.”
Political reactions have been predictably mixed. The Conservatives criticized Labour’s approach, warning that “the outlook for the next generation is increasingly bleak under Labour.” Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats argued that the government must do much more, with education spokesperson Munira Wilson stating, “It cannot continue to kick the can down the road. The future of thousands of vulnerable children is at stake.” Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston welcomed “renewed investment,” but lamented the decision to scrap the National Citizen Service, which he said had provided “valuable opportunities” for more than a million young people.
Local authorities and charities have raised concerns about delivery and capacity, pointing out that years of cuts have left some communities with no buildings, no staff, and little infrastructure from which to rebuild. Ella Nuttall, policy and research manager at Centrepoint, said the strategy “has the potential to unlock brighter futures for many more young people, and we look forward to seeing meaningful action that delivers real change for those who need it most.”
There are also warnings about a possible “postcode lottery” in access to services, with fears that areas with the strongest existing capacity might benefit first. Youth homelessness, long waits for mental health services, and changes to universal credit that could reduce financial support for disabled young people are among the wider pressures threatening to undermine the strategy’s impact.
Leigh Middleton OBE, CEO of the National Youth Agency, praised the strategy for putting young people “at the centre of change,” saying, “Youth work is essential in delivering these plans, and the Strategy makes that clear. We look forward to working with the Government to ensure this ambition is matched with action, delivering equity and lasting improvements for every young person.”
Other youth sector voices, like Dan Lawes of My Life My Say and Paul Lindley, an entrepreneur and campaigner, highlighted the importance of young people shaping the strategy from the start. Lawes said, “Its strength lies in the fact that youth voices didn’t just contribute to its composition—they shaped its direction, its priorities and its purpose.” Sophie Pender, founder of The 93% Club, called the strategy “hope: targeted investment in the working class communities too often overlooked.”
As the National Youth Strategy moves from blueprint to reality, sector leaders are calling for transparency, accountability, and, above all, a long-term commitment. Councillor Amanda Hopgood, chair of the Local Government Association’s children, young people and families committee, summed up the sentiment: “It is good government has announced investment in services for young people. However, this needs to be backed with support for the workforce, access to leisure and culture, and ongoing collaboration with local government to ensure it makes a difference for local communities, and importantly, children and young people.”
The stakes could hardly be higher. With more than 10.6 million young people aged 10–24 in England, according to the Office for National Statistics, the coming decade will reveal whether this bold new strategy can truly repair the damage of the past and deliver on its promise to put youth back at the heart of the nation’s future.
