Samantha Dixon, Labour’s MP for Chester North and Neston, has welcomed the publication of the Government’s new National Youth Strategy as a major step forward in rebuilding youth services and tackling the growing crisis of youth isolation
After more than a decade of Tory cuts, marked by the closure of more than 1,000 youth centres, the Labour Government is taking a new approach.
The plan, backed by over £500 million, will create up to 250 new or refurbished youth centres, establish 50 Young Futures Hubs, expand high-quality youth work, and boost mental-health and life-skills support for young people.
Over 13,300 young people aged 10-21 are set to benefit across Chester North and Neston alone, meaning more local young people will have access to safe spaces, supportive mentors and opportunities to build skills, friendships, and confidence.
The strategy – shaped with input from more than 14,000 young people – will give young people “somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing”, reversing years of decline and creating real-life opportunities beyond the pressures of the online world.
This announcement forms part of a decade-long programme of renewed investment in young people, building on recent commitments across government, including
- The Culture Secretary’s ‘Every Child Can’ initiative, supported by £132.5 million from the Dormant Assets Scheme
- The Department for Work and Pensions’ £820 million employment and training package, which will see 55,000 young people benefit from a government-backed guaranteed job, and create nearly 300,000 extra opportunities for young people
- A new Youth Guarantee where every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work.
- Apprenticeship reforms supported by £725 million, with new participation targets set by the Prime Minister at Labour Party Annual Conference
- More than £400 million for community sport facilities over the next four years, complemented by Sport England’s £250 million investment in youth activity
Labour’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“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
“Young people are the most digitally connected but also the most isolated in generations with many wanting more meaningful real life connections. Young people have been crystal clear in speaking up in our consultation: they need support for their mental health, spaces to meet with people in their communities and real opportunities to thrive. We will give them what they want. Today’s National Youth Strategy puts young people at the heart of decision-making and begins to rebuild the youth services that were decimated over the past decade.
“From Young Futures Hubs in local communities to hundreds of millions of pounds invested in youth facilities to transforming the services that support them – we will give young people somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing. They have spoken – now we’re delivering for them.”
Samantha Dixon MP said:
“For too long, Tory cuts have hollowed out the youth services our communities depend on, and now parties like Reform want to take us even further back into austerity – cutting the very services that we know young people need to get on in life.
“Young people I speak to in Chester North and Neston tell me they want somewhere safe to go, someone to talk to, and a chance to build a brighter future – not a system that leaves them behind. That’s why I am proud to support Labour’s new National Youth Strategy, which will start to put things right – investing in the support, spaces, and opportunities young people need to really thrive.