Service cuts may expose rural youth to county lineson August 26, 2021 at 12:35 am

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Money to support young people is much lower in rural areas than urban and half what it was a decade ago.

Anonymous woman calls over friends

image sourceGetty Images

A lack of funding for rural youth work in England is leaving young people exposed to the dangers of county lines drug-dealing gangs, it is claimed.

The amount spent per head on youth work for 11- to 19-year-olds in rural England, £47, is 25% less than in urban areas, and half the level a decade ago.

The National Youth Agency said rural employment prospects and mental-health support access were also a concern.

The government said it had given youth-work charities £100m over the pandemic.

But the National Youth Agency is calling for it to implement a long-term spending plan.

County-lines gangs often use vulnerable children to help them bring illegal drugs into areas across the UK – and move money out.

The National Youth Agency said it had seen an “increasing trend” for young people in county towns and rural areas to be targeted.

Youth workers were vital in protecting those at risk by providing a known and trusted adult, chief executive Leigh Middleton told BBC News.

But, he added: “As local authority budgets have shrunk, [resources have] gone to our towns and cities.”

Youth work can take many forms, supporting young people of all ages.

In Bridgwater, Somerset, 17-year-old Dan has struggled for work.

“In the smaller towns, there is not really much you can do, or look into, to get a job,” he said.

“They are mainly in the cities and bigger towns.”

Dan, 17

Poor social mobility is a key issue in rural areas, campaigners say.

And there are often fewer vocational courses on offer.

But Dan’s local youth service, Young Somerset, is trying to combat this.

And through the charity’s provision, he has achieved a qualification in mechanics.

“It has opened up a better opportunity for me with apprenticeships,” he said.

“It has helped me for the future.”

12 and 13-year-old boys sitting around campfire

In the Quantock Hills, a group of 12- and 13-year-olds taking part in Young Somerset’s summer activities are lighting campfires and learning about habitat conservation.

And as they sit smiling in the woodland, they are keen to express how much they have enjoyed their day.

“I’m glad I’ve done this,” Tavey says.

“[If I was at home], I’d probably be sat on my bed watching YouTube.”

Elissa Blake

Young Somerset also runs wellbeing services and a shop to help young people who have special educational needs learn life skills.

And with services becoming stretched during the pandemic, the charity said it had seen an “influx” of young people seeking mental-health support.

One of them, Elissa, 18, began feeling isolated while furloughed from work.

“I’d already struggled with mental wellbeing beforehand – and I think lockdown just made it worse,” she said.

Elissa joined online groups run by Young Somerset, meeting new friends – and now has a volunteering role with the charity to help others.

“Reaching out to Young Somerset, and gaining that trust with them, made it much easier [to cope with my anxiety],” she said.

Anntoinette Bramble, of the Local Government Association, told BBC News “increasing demand and cost pressures” meant local authorities were having to cut youth services “to prioritise spend on looked-after children and child-protection services”.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said its £500m Youth Investment Fund, “designed to achieve levelling up across the country”, remained a manifesto commitment by the end of this Parliament, in 2024.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Wind generated a record amount of electricity in 2022on January 6, 2023 at 4:41 am

More electricity in Great Britain last year came from renewable sources than from fossil fuels.More electricity in Great Britain last year came from renewable...

BT and Openreach staff walk out in strike over payon August 30, 2022 at 12:27 pm

The Communication Workers Union said 40,000 members will stage two days of industrial action.The Communication Workers Union said 40,000 members will stage two days...

No penalties for ‘innocent’ tax errors, HMRC boss sayson January 26, 2023 at 1:38 pm

Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi is facing calls to resign, after it emerged he paid a penalty to HMRC.Image source, PA MediaThere are no...

This Free Mesothelioma Guide May Be Your Ticket Out of This Life destroyer

People are not very sure of the exact causes of mesothelioma. Researchers are not exactly sure what causes this type of cancer to develop...

Watch: Sportscene – Scottish Premiership highlightson July 30, 2022 at 6:31 pm

Watch highlights from the opening day of the Scottish Premiership on BBC Scotland's Sportscene.Watch highlights from the opening day of the Scottish Premiership on...