Two-thirds of councils have not increased spending on youth services in the past five years, according to a new survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), highlighting the need for fresh investment in local grassroots provision for young people.

The LGA’s survey found that, over the past five years, revenue expenditure on overall youth services has either remained the same or decreased in 61 per cent of councils. Despite these pressures, councils are working to secure investment in youth services. The research found that, over the next three years, 42 per cent of councils plan to increase the number of hours of youth service support provided.

The LGA is calling for greater investment from central government in youth services and the creation of open-access youth hubs across the country. It is also advocating for the reallocation of resources from the National Citizen Service