So on the one hand, about one-third of young people are still going to a youth club on a regular basis, which is great to see. But if we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, there's a clear trend. Since 2010/11, the percentage attending any youth group or club has been on a downward slope, dropping from 56% to 44% over 10 years. Whether this is because youth centres were shutting down due to funding cuts or reflects changes in how young people socialise isn’t clear - it may be both.

Speaking of funding cuts, they've hit local youth services hard. In the years leading up to the pandemic, these organisations faced significant slashes in their budgets. We're talking about a whopping £959 million reduction from 2010/11 to 2018/19, which is a 71% cut. It's left many youth services either in a precarious position or sadly closed.¹

Youth services have been a lifeline for countless young people, offering spaces for positive activities and personal development. As this 19-year-old reflected: ‘I knew that I could always speak to a youth worker there whenever I was feeling troubled, which was quite a lot.’² But with the doors closing due to these cuts, it's becoming increasingly difficult for individuals to find those local hubs where they can thrive and grow. It's a challenging situation for sure.