The National Youth Agency

22/06/2026

How do we turn national ambition for young people into real change on the ground?

In this interview, Dre, Youth Endowment Fund Youth Advisory Board Member, meets Natasha Irons MP, Member of the DCMS Select Committee and Chair of the APPG on Youth Affairs, at this year’s Annual Youth Work Conference.

Natasha reflects on what young people in her constituency in East Croydon are telling her and why commissioning must be shaped by youth voice.

Highlighting the Youth Services Bill brought forward to Parliament last year, she explains how embedding statutory protection and a stronger duty for youth consultation can help ensure the National Youth Strategy is delivered consistently across the country as a shared responsibility.

From the importance of early intervention and prevention to the role of community-based youth work, she highlights a clear message: services work best when they are co-designed with young people, not just for them.

🎥 Watch the film: https://youtu.be/LJ64P-sIP6w?si=9bikMDRUT8qqaAH_

Natasha Irons MP for Croydon East

22/06/2026

The publication of the Department for Education's Enrichment Framework marks an important moment for young people.

It reflects a growing recognition that enrichment is not an optional extra, but a vital part of helping young people develop confidence, belonging, skills, purpose and a sense of who they are.

On Thursday 9 July we are hosting a webinar with Enrichment for All to explore this major opportunity for the youth sector.

Together, we’ll learn how the youth sector can help shape local enrichment ecosystems and ensure more young people benefit from meaningful enrichment opportunities.

Sign up to join the webinar here:

https://nya.org.uk/event/enrichment-entitlement-and-benchmarks-new-opportunities-for-the-youth-sector/

Register with Enrichment for All to download their Enrichment Benchmarks Companion Toolkit:

https://enrichmentforall.org/

19/06/2026

How do we turn national ambition for young people into real change on the ground?

In this interview, Taylia, Youth Endowment Fund Youth Advisory Board Member, meets Sharon Long, Director at Partnership for Young London , at this year’s Annual Youth Work Conference.

Sharon reflects on the needs of young people, from mental health and unemployment, to the impact of persistent inequalities in access to opportunity.

She highlights the importance of joined-up support for care-experienced young people - sharing an example of co-located services in East London where young people can access housing advice, activities and mental health support in one place.

Sharon explains how Partnership for Young London is working directly with housing associations and regional partners to co-produce solutions, underlining the importance of power-sharing with young people and cross-sector collaboration.

🎥 Watch the film: https://youtu.be/khWx5AXanAk?si=SOEpqvqpK0miGhUS

15/06/2026

Today Government have announced their intention to ban social media platforms for under-16s in the UK.

NYA CEO Leigh Middleton OBE urges Ministers to work directly with young people in his response:
https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-government-announcement-of-social-media-ban-for-under-16s/

15/06/2026

On Saturday 13 June Government have announced a £132.5 million 'Every Child Can' programme in support of the new Enrichment Benchmarks and Entitlement.

Read about how the NYA are working with the Enrichment for All coalition to explore what this means in practice for youth sector organisations, as well as schools and colleges:
https://nya.org.uk/nya-response-to-the-governments-enrichment-benchmarks-and-every-child-can-programme/

12/06/2026

Faith-based youth work spans a wide spectrum - from socially focused practice to work centred on spiritual and faith development. Many youth workers operate across this range, creating inclusive spaces where young people can explore identity, values, connection and belief.

We’re pleased to announce Hamza Ahmed, Head of Youth Work at Here for Youth, as our fourth panellist taking part in next week’s NYA Youth Work Insight session.

Hamza has been active in youth work since 2010, with extensive experience providing training in mosque-based and community settings and has supported the development of youth engagement programmes across hundreds of communities in the UK and internationally.

He joins a diverse panel exploring ethics, boundaries and inclusive practice in faith, spirituality and religion in youth work.

📅 Tuesday 16 June | 12:00 - 1:30pm | Online via Zoom

We also welcome to the panel:

• Colin Michel, Co-Director - Resonant Collaboration
• Dr Peter Hart, Lecturer in Inclusion, Childhood and Youth - University of Leeds
• Sukhdev Rathore, Exploitation, Diversity and Inclusion Lead - National Working Group (NWG) Network

This first Youth Work Insight session in our annual four-part series will offer a space to reflect, learn and strengthen ethical practice.

We’ll be discussing:

* Building confidence in engaging with faith, spirituality and religion in practice
* Strengthening inclusive and rights-based approaches
* Reflecting on safeguarding, power and professional boundaries
* Connecting policy, values and everyday youth work practice

This session is ideal for anyone working with young people in both faith-based and secular settings.

👉 Register your free place, visit: nya.org.uk/event/youth-work-insight-faith-based-youth-work-ethics-boundaries-and-practice-with-young-people/

12/06/2026

🚨 Deadline extended!🚨

We're looking for 30 young people in the South East / North East of England with a passion for climate action to join the Roots to Rise programme.

Through Roots to Rise, up to 100 young people (aged 16-30) from across the country will come together to learn the skills of community organising and co-create a youth-led national climate initiative.

Scan the QR code or click below to find out more and sign up by 28 June: https://forms.monday.com/forms/4a915d9f8f71d97ee96e2b0808637cd4?r=euc1

11/06/2026

No young person should feel they have “nothing to do, no opportunity.”

This powerful ITV News piece highlights how too many white working-class boys are being let down – facing limited opportunities, higher absence from school and increasing risk factors linked to crime and disengagement.

At the NYA, we know youth work changes lives. When young people have safe spaces, trusted adults and opportunities to belong and thrive, outcomes improve – for individuals and communities.

We must invest in youth services, support practitioners and ensure every young person, whatever their background, has the chance to succeed.

Read more: https://www.itv.com/news/2026-06-09/crime-no-opportunity-white-working-class-boys-are-being-let-down-by-system

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQ4JEBowzU

This report contains discussions about su***de which some viewers m...

10/06/2026

In these fearful and uncertain times, youth workers and everyone supporting young people play a vital role in helping them feel safe, heard and able to make sense of hatred, division and discrimination.

We condemn all acts of violence, and our thoughts are with everyone affected. At this difficult time of heightened tension, our focus remains on encouraging open dialogue, understanding and tolerance.

NYA stands alongside UK Youth , the Regional Youth Work Units and partners across the sector in solidarity with communities affected by racism, Islamophobia and anti-immigration violence. We know there are no easy answers, but we remain committed to creating space to listen, share experiences and connect people with resources that can support local responses and challenge divisive narratives.

Together, we will continue to support youth workers to do all they can to keep young people safe, strengthen belonging and challenge discrimination in all its forms.

Access resources and register for our next Solidarity support session at 10am on Friday 3rd July: https://www.ukyouth.org/what-we-do/support-for-youth-workers/

07/06/2026

Volunteers are at the heart of youth work, standing alongside paid staff to make safe, meaningful provision possible every day.

With, on average, two volunteers for every four employed youth workers, they form a vital part of the workforce young people rely on. Strengthening their skills, confidence and pathways isn’t optional – it’s essential to sustaining high-quality support.

Across the sector, demand is rising and pressures are growing, with many organisations also reporting challenges in recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Our Workforce Survey reinforces what we already know: volunteering is a key route into youth work, and investing in volunteers – so they feel equipped, valued and supported – is critical to building a stronger, more sustainable workforce for the future.

This Volunteers’ Week, encourage your volunteers to explore CPD opportunities – so they can build their skills while improving outcomes for young people 👉 https://nya.org.uk/cpd