The last decade has seen a huge loss in youth clubs and services across the country, despite these spaces being central to the community. While cuts to these services have long been seen to hit young people the hardest, an all-party parliamentary group on knife crime has revealed new data that suggests areas that have seen the largest cuts to council youth spending have seen bigger increases in knife crime.
Half of youth centres supported by English local authorities have been cut since 2011, alongside a 42% drop in youth service staff. London in particular has seen a 44% budget cut in youth services in recent years – a loss of at least £39m.
We want to hear how these losses have affected people and communities who use youth centres and clubs. Tell us if your local youth centre has recently shut down and why. Share your experiences and memories of the centre and how its loss has affected you and your community.
What services did you use at the centre? How did it – the activities, the people you met there – affect your life growing up? What kind of impacts might the loss of these spaces have on your community?
Share your story
Tell us your experiences of youth centres and clubs in the form below. Include as much information as you can about if/how the youth centre helped you, and how the loss of these spaces affects communities. We can only publish responses from young people over the age of 16, we will need your parents’ or guardian’s permission if you’re under that age. One of our journalists will be in touch if we’re planning to feature your story in our reporting.
If you’re having trouble using the form, click here. Read terms of service here.
