The Local Youth Transformation Pilot is investing £8 million over 2025/26 to support 12 ‘Pathfinder’ local authorities to start to rebuild a high-quality offer for young people and transition back to local youth services leadership. The pilot will test ways to rebuild local authority capability to ensure a local youth offer which addresses the needs of young people and supports government priorities.
The objectives of the Local Youth Transformation Pilot are to:
- improve capability in 12 local authorities to improve their local youth offer
- build DCMS’ and wider government understanding of the challenges and opportunities local authorities face, and how local authorities can best be supported to build capability to effectively meet their statutory duty and deliver effective services for young people
- ensure longer term sustainability in participating local authorities to deliver their youth services statutory duty
The National Youth Agency (NYA), with UK Youth, Regional Youth Work Units, YPF Trust, Centre for Young Lives, Streetgames and Local Government Association, is working as a delivery partner for the pilot. Through tailored advice, tools, resources and consultation, they are supporting Pathfinder local authorities to assess current youth provision in the community, understand the needs of young people in their areas, and develop a plan to improve provision for young people.