Youth Provision: Universal and Targeted Support

David Williams Excerpts
Tuesday 11th February 2025

(1 day, 16 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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Harpreet Uppal Portrait Harpreet Uppal
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I thank the hon. Member for her point. I am sure the Minister heard what she said.

Kirklees council, which covers my constituency of Huddersfield, has seen a 70% decrease in funding in the 14 years that I mentioned. That leaves just £47.76 per young person spent on youth services in our community.

David Williams Portrait David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)
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I thank my hon. Friend for securing this really important debate. In Stoke-on-Trent, the amount spent per young person is £10.76, but in inner London it is £110—10 times more. Does she agree that we need to look at the regional inequalities in how these services are funded? Hopefully, the Minister will hear that point too.

Harpreet Uppal Portrait Harpreet Uppal
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I am sure the Minister has heard my hon. Friend’s point.

The Children’s Society’s “Good Childhood Report” shows that 15-year-olds in the UK have the lowest life satisfaction of young people across 27 European countries, based on programme for international student assessment data from 2022. Despite the financial outlook, there are many incredible organisations working in my constituency to support our young people, including Positive Stepz, Conscious Youth, Central Stars youth club, Team KickStart, Yorkshire Community Development, Empower, Boxpower and Temple Well-Being.