New research commissioned by the YEF shows how vital everyday moments in youth work are in keeping children safe. A survey of 300 youth workers across England and Wales, carried out by the National Youth Agency, alongside Professor Carlene Firmin and the Contextual Safeguarding research programme at Durham University, found that:

• 73% had provided informal mentoring to young people at risk of violence or crime
• 65% had de-escalated situations that could have led to violence
• 55% had challenged misinformation that might otherwise fuel conflict

Yet many youth workers lack the training, funding, and system support needed to do this work consistently. Over a third reported having no supervision or specialist training on violence-related issues, and access to youth clubs remains uneven across the country.