The Network of Regional Youth Work Units (RYWUs) would like to congratulate all newly elected councillors across England and acknowledge the important role local authorities play in supporting young people and strengthening communities.
As regional infrastructure organisations for the youth sector, RYWUs work alongside local authorities, voluntary and community organisations, and national partners to champion high-quality youth work and improve opportunities for young people. We are committed to supporting councils in understanding and delivering their statutory responsibilities for youth services, while helping to build stronger, more accessible local youth offers.
We encourage councillors and local authority leaders to engage with the range of resources, guidance, and sector networks available to support effective youth provision. This includes the statutory guidance under Section 507B of the Education Act, tools and frameworks for reviewing local youth services, and opportunities to connect with peer networks and national sector partners.
We also encourage local authorities and youth organisations to engage with the National Youth Agency Sector Census, supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which continues to provide valuable insight into the scale, reach, and impact of youth provision across England and helps inform local and national decision-making.
Regional Youth Work Units remain committed to working collaboratively with councils and partners to strengthen youth work infrastructure, support workforce development, amplify young people’s voices, and ensure all young people have access to high-quality opportunities within their communities.
We look forward to working with newly elected members and local authority colleagues in the months ahead to support positive outcomes for young people across our regions.