The government is to fund the recruitment and training of 1,000 new youth workers across England as part of a major expansion of services aimed at helping young people who are at risk
of disengaging from education, employment and community life.
The first of the new youth workers are expected to begin working by spring 2027. They will provide support to young people aged 11 and over in community centres and other local settings, with particular attention given to those considered most vulnerable to becoming NEET — not in education, employment or training.
The initiative forms part of a wider government programme to rebuild youth services after years of declining local authority spending. Government figures show that spending on youth services fell by 73% between 2010 and 2023, contributing to the loss of youth worker positions and the closure or reduction of services in communities across England.
The new workforce will operate alongside existing teams in education, training, healthcare and crime prevention. Youth workers will provide mentoring and help young people access activities including sport, arts, volunteering and other community-based programmes.
The government says the programme is intended to give more young people access to trusted adults and strengthen opportunities for face-to-face interaction outside school and the home.
It is also linked to the government's wider plans for young people ahead of the introduction of a social media ban for under-16s.
The recruitment programme represents the first stage of a longer-term ambition to give an additional 500,000 young people access to a trusted adult by 2035.
Alongside the workforce expansion, the government is preparing to invest £450 million through a new Youth Matters Fund. The programme will support the construction, refurbishment and expansion of youth facilities, while providing funding for activities designed to encourage young people to spend more time in their local communities.
Funding will support programmes including sport, music, volunteering and other enrichment activities, with priority expected to be given to some of England's most underserved areas.
The announcement follows the government's National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, launched by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy in December 2025. The strategy was developed following a nationwide survey involving around 14,000 young people.
The research found that many young people lacked access to safe community spaces, supportive relationships and opportunities to participate in activities outside school. It also highlighted the growing importance of online interaction as face-to-face opportunities became less available.
The government has pledged more than £500 million for the broader youth strategy, with a programme extending over the next decade.
Ministers say the approach is intended to give local communities a greater role in determining how youth services operate, while enabling young people to influence the design of programmes around the skills, opportunities and support they need.
The expansion comes as policymakers face growing debate over how to reduce young people's dependence on online platforms while creating meaningful alternatives in their local communities.
The government argues that stronger youth services can provide practical support at an early stage, helping young people develop skills, maintain engagement with education and training, and establish stronger links with their communities.
