Hundreds of youth centres planned to reach 'isolated' generation

The government is set to spend £500m on youth services in England, saying the money is needed to revive the "decimated" sector.

Over the next four years, the government aims to build or refurbish 250 youth centres, as well as launch 50 new Young Future hubs, which Labour said in its manifesto would be sites bringing together existing services under one roof.

By 2035, half a million young people will also be paired with youth workers, volunteers and other trusted adults to help them stay safe online and develop connections.

The Conservatives said "the outlook for the next generation is increasingly bleak under Labour", while the Liberal Democrats said "the government has got to do much more".

The Young Futures Hubs will be a base for youth workers and other professionals, who will support young people at risk of harm and offer career development guidance.

The first of the new hubs will be up and running by March 2026 in:

Ministers say the revamped youth centres will offer visitors "somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who cares about their wellbeing".

Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston welcomed "renewed investment", but said Labour's decision to scrap the National Citizen Service, part of the Big Society initiative launched by then-prime minister David Cameron, left more than a million young people without "valuable opportunities".

Lib Dem education spokesperson Munira Wilson said the government must give children "access to the local services they deserve" and reform the "broken" special needs system.

"It cannot continue to kick the can down the road," she said. "The future of thousands of vulnerable children is at stake."

The Local Government Association welcomed the announcement but said it needed to be "backed with support for the workforce".