Amanda Martin MP has welcomed the Labour Government’s landmark 10-Year National Youth Strategy, describing it as a ‘game-changer’ for young people in Portsmouth North.
- ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ outlines a 10-year, cross-government plan to improve outcomes for young people aged 10-21, up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
- Ambitious 10-year plan to give 500,000 more young people access to a trusted adult outside their home and equip them with skills to boost their resilience and stay safe online.
- National Youth Strategy to deliver up to 250 new or refurbished youth centres, 50 Young Futures Hubs, and new support for youth workers, backed by over £500 million of investment.
- 10 Priority Actions include achieving full national coverage of Mental Health Support Teams in schools by 2029, restoring neighbourhood policing, lowering the voting age to 16, and significant investment in new Young Futures Hubs and youth centres.
- The Strategy has been developed following extensive engagement, hearing from over 14,000 young people and nearly 1,500 cross-sector experts.
The Labour Government has delivered on its commitment to the next generation by launching ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’. The landmark 10-year plan is designed to ensure every young person across the country and in places such as Portsmouth has someone who cares, somewhere to go, and a community they feel part of.
Young people across England will benefit from over £500 million of government investment as the first National Youth Strategy in 15 years is published today, setting out an ambitious delivery plan to rebuild youth services over the next decade.
‘Youth Matters’ has been co-produced with more than 14,000 young people across England through a landmark ‘State of the Nation’ survey. It represents a fundamental shift in how the government will support young people over the next decade – turning the tide from isolation online, to real life connections.
Local Government spending on youth services fell by 73% between 2010/11 and 2022/23, with more than 1,000 youth centres closing and over 4,500 youth worker roles being lost. The Prime Minister has spoken of young people being “collateral damage” over the past decade and how this must be turned around, with the Government investing in the potential of young people – offering them the chance for real life connections to support their talent and potential.
A centrepiece of the National Youth Strategy centres around additional investment to transform youth services. The government is committing over £500 million of new funding, which will:
- Build or refurbish up to 250 youth facilities over the next four years, as well as providing equipment for activities to around 2500 youth organisations, through a new £350 million ‘Better Youth Spaces’ programme. It will provide safe and welcoming spaces, offering young people somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing.
- Launch a network of 50 Young Futures Hubs by March 2029 as part of a local transformation programme of £70 million, providing access to youth workers and other professionals, supporting their wellbeing and career development and preventing them from harm.
- The first eight hubs to be operational by March 2026 are in Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, County Durham, Nottingham, Bristol, Tower Hamlets, and Brighton and Hove.
- Support organisations in underserved areas to deliver high-quality youth work and activities through a ‘Richer Young Lives Fund’ worth over £60 million.
- Boost young people’s wellbeing, personal development, and essential life skills through a new £22.5 million programme of support around the school day in up to 400 schools.
- Recruit and train youth workers, volunteers and other trusted adults with £15 million of investment.
- Strengthen youth services through £5 million to improve local partnerships, better information sharing, and digital infrastructure, ensuring young people receive high-quality, safe, and effective support in their communities.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “As a father, 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.
“That is also why we will ensure that if you choose an apprenticeship, you will have the same respect and opportunity as everyone else, as we get two-thirds of young people in higher-level learning or apprenticeships.”
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, said: “For fourteen years under the Conservatives, young people were treated as an afterthought. Their voices were ignored, and youth services were decimated. The launch of ‘Youth Matters’ is our government’s decisive response: it marks the end of that neglect.
“This is not a tokenistic policy; it is a 10-year, cross-government commitment to put the next generation first. We are delivering real change, guaranteeing world-class mental health provision in every school, restoring safe spaces through new Young Futures Hubs, and giving young people power by lowering the voting age to 16. Labour is driving forward our Plan for Change to secure a decade of national renewal built on opportunity for all.”
Amanda Martin, Labour MP for Portsmouth North, said: “This announcement shows the tangible difference a Labour Government makes, as we correct the damage done in Portsmouth North after years of cuts to youth services and support.
“While the previous Conservative government closed youth centres and allowed waiting lists for mental health support to skyrocket, our Government is delivering the opposite. We are investing in Young Futures Hubs and new youth centres, rolling out Mental Health Support Teams in our schools, and restoring the neighbourhood policing that our communities desperately need.
“This Strategy is about giving our young people the security, support, and genuine voice they deserve, helping to grow our local economy and restore a real sense of pride and belonging in the place we call home. We are listening, and we are delivering.”
The insights gathered will be published alongside the Strategy in a ‘State of the Nation’ report, highlighting four critical themes that have shaped the plan:
- Community, Connection, and Belonging: Young people want stronger connections to their communities, safe and welcoming spaces, and trust in adults and institutions.
- Physical, Mental, and Digital Wellbeing: Young people want access to timely mental health support and healthcare, alongside tools to navigate digital lives and also boost their confidence and sense of self.
- Skills and Opportunities for Life and Work: Young people want better preparation for their future careers through quality education, training, and meaningful job opportunities.
- Safety and Security: Young people are concerned about safety, crime and online security, and need trusted adults who can offer support to them.
In response, ‘Youth Matters’ sets out 10 prioritised actions for government departments to deliver over the next decade:
- Trusted adults: Supporting and embedding more trusted adults, including through sports programmes or new Young Futures Hubs.
- Supporting and improving the workforce: DCMS funding for youth workers, volunteers and trusted adults, to better support young people. In addition, we will be providing DCMS funding to build better local youth offers with Local Authorities and develop a network of Young Futures Hubs.
- Friends and relationships: Helping young people develop positive social connections and reduce isolation in school and in their communities. In addition, supporting Ofcom to meet its updated duties to protect young people from harmful online content and improve media literacy.
- Richer Lives: DCMS funding to create a better enrichment offer in up to 400 schools and new funding creating activities and youth work opportunities in areas that need it most. More support for young people to be physically active including the new School Sport Partnerships and investment from Sport England into local sport and physical activity.
- Good work: Delivering on the Youth Guarantee to ensure access to further learning, jobs, or apprenticeships for young people, expanding the number of employment Youth Hubs and guaranteeing a job for those on Universal Credit who have been unemployed for over 18 months.
- Keeping young people safe: Restoring neighbourhood policing, providing support via Young Futures Hubs, and introducing mandatory training for bus staff to help young people feel safer on the bus.
- Places to go: Building and renovating youth centres with new DCMS funding as well as investing in new and upgraded grassroot community sport facilities which promote health and wellbeing. We will also improve local transport for young people to get to activities and services.
- Health and wellbeing: Rolling out Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges to reach full national coverage by the end of 2029.
- Delivering with young people: Lowering the voting age to 16 and empowering young people to co-design policies and be change makers.
- Holding us to account: Measuring outcomes across government through a shared framework and publishing an interim delivery report in 2027.
The Labour Government will begin implementation of the 10-point plan immediately, with key milestones set across the next decade.
