Huddersfield Labour MP Harpreet Uppal has called for more support for youth services which she says is vital to the future of young people.
Speaking during a Westminster debate, Ms Uppal said youth services played an important role in strengthening communities, insisting: “Youth services are not a luxury.”
Ms Uppal pointed out that trained youth workers created safe spaces, fostered trusted relationships and helped young people build the confidence and skills needed to thrive.
While acknowledging recent Government initiatives—such as the National Youth Strategy for England and the Young Futures Hubs—Ms Uppal raised concerns about the long-term decline in funding.
Since 2010, local authority spending on youth services in England has been reduced by £1.2 billion in real terms. In Kirklees, funding has decreased by 70%, leaving just £47.76 per young person.
“Despite financial constraints, organisations like Positive Stepz, Conscious Youth Hub and Central Stars Youth Club continue to support young people in Huddersfield,” said Ms Uppal.
“But many have had to reduce their services due to funding cuts, limiting opportunities for our youth.”
Ms Uppal linked the reduction in youth services to worsening outcomes, citing research showing that youth club closures led to a 4% drop in GCSE performance and a 14% increase in youth crime.
She also highlighted the tragic loss of two young boys, Khayri McLean and Harley Brown, to knife crime in Huddersfield, stressing the urgent need for preventative youth services.
Ms Uppal addressed the growing mental health crisis among young people, noting that more than one in five children now have a diagnosable mental health condition.
“Youth services play a critical role in early intervention, and investing in them is both effective and cost-efficient,” she said.
Ms Uppal called for long-term funding beyond short-term initiatives like the Youth Investment Fund and the pilot Young Future Hubs, currently only funded for one year.
She also requested clarity from the Minister on the timelines for rolling out these hubs and wants one of these pilot hubs to be in Huddersfield.
Highlighting workforce challenges, Ms Uppal noted that over 4,500 youth workers have left the profession in the past decade, with only six undergraduate youth work programmes remaining.
She called for a national training programme to support the recruitment, training and retention of skilled youth workers.
“Youth services change lives,” she added. “When young people are given the right support, they achieve their potential, contribute to their communities, and lead happier, healthier lives.
“We must ensure every young person, no matter where they live, has access to high-quality youth services. Investment in youth work is an investment in our country’s future.”
