Liverpool City Council has been chosen as one of only 12 local authorities across the country to receive part of an £8m fund from the government aimed at strengthening youth service provision in the city.
The city council successfully bid for and has been awarded a one-off grant of more than half a million pound (£546,161) from the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) to deliver a Local Youth Transformation Pilot (LYTP).
The pilot will involve the creation of a “Youth Assembly”, which will be set up in Liverpool as part of a drive to allow young people to express their views and have their voices heard, as well as create opportunities to study for youth work qualifications and for the council, young people, and youth providers to work together to co-produce a Youth Offer Plan for the city.
The LYTP aims to build sustainable, high-quality youth services which better meet the needs of young people. The pilot runs until 31 August 2026.
In addition to the LYTP funding, a further £550k per year has been allocated from the city council’s Public Health budget to increase access to youth work across the city for young people.
This funding comes following the success of 15 projects funded by Public Health during the summer holidays which delivered 1500 hours of youth work.
Youth work providers are being invited to bid for grants from this funding pot to deliver targeted youth projects. The city council is hosting a special event on Friday 7 November, 3.30pm – 5.00pm to launch the grant programme and allow providers to find out more. The event will take place at the Banquet Suite, Cunard Building, Liverpool L3 1AH.
Places are limited, so providers are being asked to register their attendance by completing an online form, which must be completed by Wednesday 5 November. For more information about the event, attendees should email simon.bell@liverpool.gov.uk.
The announcements of additional funding for youth provision in Liverpool come during National Youth Work Week, the National Youth Agency’s annual celebration of the life-changing impact of youth work across the UK.
This year’s theme, Building Brighter Futures, highlights the essential role youth work plays in helping young people feel secure, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.
Cllr Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services at Liverpool City Council, said:
“This funding is a significant boost for Liverpool, and it feels particularly fitting that we’re able to make this announcement during Youth Work Week.
“As set out in our council plan, we are committed to making sure children and young people have their rights respected and their voices heard, and they will have an important role to play in helping us deliver the proposals we set out in our bid for this additional funding.
“We’re also excited to work with DCMS and the National Youth Agency to deliver lasting change.”
Cllr Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Public Health at Liverpool City Council, said:
“The Youth Transformation Fund builds upon the council’s ambitious commitment to invest a further £500,000 per year from Public Health into youth work.
“This will create services that focus on health and wellbeing and support our children and young people to thrive.”
