Youth services should be considered essential work

A new report from the National Youth Agency (NYA) argues that stopping or restricting youth work and projects due to COVID-19 is having a detrimental affect on helping young people escape gangs, and should therefore be considered essential work.

While statistics show a fall in gang activity, the report says that gangs have adapted to COVID-19, changing locations and grooming new recruits – hidden in plain sight of those in authority.

The new report includes insight from the front line of youth workers on their increased concerns for street-gangs and organised criminal gangs. Where street-based youth work has been sustained it can help young people known to be involved or vulnerable to gangs. However, diversionary projects have closed and few specialist services are open to help young people exit gangs safely. Meanwhile online activity is stoking up a rapid return of gang violence and there are real fears for an increase in gang activity and child criminal exploitation post-lockdown.

NYA is calling for youth services to be classified as an essential service and youth workers given key worker status. It wants clear Home Office guidance to embed youth services in Violence Reduction Units and other agencies now to meet immediate needs, and sustained over time.

The NYA is also calling for a Youth Service Guarantee, recommended by the Home Affairs select committee, to secure long term funding and greatly increase the number of youth workers.

Leigh Middleton, NYA Chief Executive, said: "More young people are in potentially unsafe environment with little or no contact and limited access to support services during lockdown. Young people still go missing and stay away from home, but often for shorter periods and are not reported missing. Some young people are not necessarily known by the police or other services, but most are likely to be known by youth workers.

“Just at the time when they are needed the most, many youth work projects stopped or become severely restricted due to COVID-19. Now is the time for more youth work, not less.”