Youth Services Deprived Communities 2025-10-16
2025-10-16
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP noted the importance of youth theatre and other youth services for personal development. He referenced the Better Youth Spaces Fund and the dire state of youth services provision below 50% threshold.
What steps her Department has taken to support the delivery of youth services in deprived communities. As a young man who owes as much to youth theatre as to my schooling, I know the importance of youth services. The process of engaging with the Better Youth Spaces Fund has highlighted how stripped bare our youth services are and how few meet the 50% threshold for provision. Would the Secretary of State or one of her advisers meet me to discuss how we can ensure that we have the youth workers in order to bid for funds?
This Government are co-producing a national youth strategy—the first in decades—to bring power back to young people. The better youth spaces funding focuses on organisations whose main aim is supporting young people. A billion pounds was taken out of youth services under the last Government, leading to the loss of thousands of youth workers and hundreds of youth clubs across the country. Our forthcoming national youth strategy will prioritise youth workers and youth clubs.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to meeting with MP to discuss ensuring there are enough youth workers to bid for funds.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP referenced the Better Youth Spaces Fund and asked about reforms to enable more money from sources like the People's Postcode Lottery for good causes.
Local charities would be better equipped to deliver youth services if they could maximise their income from sources such as the People’s Postcode Lottery, but in spring the Government refused to make the reforms that would enable more money to be available for good causes. Given this decision has proved controversial, will the Government agree to revisit it?
We have heard concerns from across the House on this issue. The Youth Minister would be happy to meet with the hon. Lady to discuss it.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to reconsidering reforms enabling charities to access more lottery funding.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted the financial pressures on youth service providers such as charities due to national insurance increases. He questioned why these organisations were not exempt from Labour’s national insurance increases.
Many youth services are commissioned and provided by charities under severe financial pressure, yet charities were not exempt from Labour’s national insurance increases, even children’s hospices were not. Why not? Is the Department engaging constructively with the Chancellor about the plight of children’s and youth charities?
I welcome the shadow Secretary of State to his place. Charities are central to everything we do as a country. We have protected the smallest charities, which will be better off due to our reforms. The majority will pay either the same or less. We recognise the challenges and my hon. Friend the Minister for Civil Society has been working through those issues with charities.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to engaging with the Chancellor on alleviating financial pressures for children's and youth charities.
Response accuracy