Youth Organisations and Inequality

Affluent areas of England are twice as likely to have access to youth clubs and other out-of-school activities as those in poorer locations, the first national snapshot of youth services in more than a decade has revealed.

The gulf emerged in a survey by the National Youth Agency (NYA) of close to 8,500 organisations providing youth services including national groups such as the Boys’ Brigade, the Woodcraft Folk, YMCA and the Marine Society & Sea Cadets, as well as councils. The majority of provision was offered by Scouts and Girlguiding. 

The survey also found youth buildings are more than twice as likely to be purpose-built for or aimed towards young people in affluent areas than in deprived areas, where facilities are more likely to be shared.

In the top 10% most affluent postcode areas there were twice as many youth groups compared as in the 10% most deprived, it found. The largest clusters of the most deprived areas in England are in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, the north-east, Yorkshire and parts of London. The most affluent postcodes, often suburban and rural, include areas in counties such as Berkshire, Cheshire and Devon.

“There needs to be equal access to youth provision and it shouldn’t depend on postcode or whether you live in an affluent area,” said Leigh Middleton, the chief executive of the NYA, who described the figures as “very stark”. “The priority should be set by where the need is greatest and supporting all young people to have equal access to youth provision.”

The NYA also estimates £1bn less is being spent on youth services annually than a decade ago. The YMCA has previously calculated that youth services in England have experienced a 73% real-terms funding cut from local authorities since 2010.