After 20 years without a Youth Strategy in place, December 2025 saw the DCMS and central government launch ‘Youth Matters – Your National Youth Strategy’. When you think back a lot has happened over those last 20 years, we have had a coalition government, Brexit and a global pandemic. It might be easy to see how young people were not a priority, and an assumption was made that the ‘kids are alright’ – but they weren’t and they are not. Those events had an impact on young people and their voices and opinions need to be heard and acted upon if we want them to thrive and look to their futures with excitement and anticipation. 

This is what the strategy has started to address. It was co-produced with a young people’s Youth Advisory Group, 14,000 responses from young people across the country via survey, and involvement from 1,500 professional working across the sector.  

It is a 10 year plan that identifies 10 actions it will focus on including ensuring there are more trusted adults outside of the home that young people can go to for support and guidance, on providing career preparation through schools and new Employment Hubs, on ensuring young people are ready for the world of work and able to achieve their goals, and on making wellbeing support a part of everyday life and not just something you have to reach for when things go wrong. See full strategy here DCMS Youth Strategy_accessible_final 

There is significant investment running alongside the strategy to ensure these ambitions can be achieved: 

• £60m Richer Young Lives Fund to support high-quality youth work in underserved communities.  

• £350m expansion of the Better Youth Spaces Fund, including up to 250 new or refurbished youth facilities and equipment for around 2,500 organisations.  

• £15m to recruit and train youth workers – a vital recognition of youth work as a skilled, life-changing profession.  

• £5m to strengthen local youth sector partnerships and improve digital infrastructure. 

Work in Norfolk is currently focusing on four key areas: 

• Mapping of current provision and a needs assessment 

• Creating youth work pathways and professional development for youth workers 

• Scoping what national and local funding is available 

• Creating a joined-up, sector-wide approach to promotion and communications with young people 

Each area has a working group made up of statutory and VCSE representatives who will start to dig into their areas and ensure Norfolk makes the most of the opportunities and funding available.  

This feels like a very significant move from the government and a positive one for the sector, youth workers, and most importantly the young people living in our county.