Barking and Dagenham: Statutory youth offer

Despite around 70 per cent budget cuts over the past decade and shrinking Youth Services capacity, the Borough focussed on commissioning relationships over services. Through youth-led events, embedded support in acute settings, and paid employment pathways, the offer has gained national recognition and investment. Sustained through cross-sector collaboration and youth leadership, the approach continues to evolve - centring trust, visibility, and lived experience to improve outcomes for vulnerable young people.

Over the past decade, the Borough experienced around a 70 per cent reduction in youth service budgets, amounting to £1 million in savings. Many Youth Service staff (11 FTE) were moved into Early Help by 2018/19, and by 2023, only 5.5 FTE remained - most absorbed into Education Commissioning.

Alongside internal constraints, the Borough’s vibrant and diverse VCFS sector - while delivering exceptional work - struggled with fragmented commissioning, short-term funding, and complex partnership dynamics. Many organisations lacked access to sustainable funding streams, and traditional commissioning models were not always available or effective.

With 48 per cent of children in the Borough living in poverty, the need for a responsive, inclusive, and visible Youth Offer was urgent. The challenge was not only financial but also structural: how to build a youth system that was resilient, equitable, and co-owned by those it served.

The Borough responded by embracing its statutory duty under Section 507B of the Education Act 1996 to develop and publish a Youth Offer. Rather than commissioning services alone, Barking and Dagenham became a commissioner of relationships centred on youth voice, trust, and co-production.

Key initiatives included:

• National Youth Work Week 2024: A springboard for visibility and growth, bringing together over 40 youth professionals and 100 young people at The Vibe youth centre. Supported by local partners like Box Up Crime, Lifeline, West Ham, Radiant Ambitions, and Future Youth Zone, and national organisations including St John’s Ambulance and the National Youth Agency - all contributing voluntarily.
• Digital Platform: Co-designed by over 200 young people, launching in late 2025, with postcode filtering, service directories, and volunteering/work experience opportunities. A promotional video is also in development to reflect young people’s call for greater visibility.
• Youth-Led Safety Summit: The Borough’s first VCFS-led summit, organised and facilitated by paid youth leaders. Their reflections highlighted the transformative nature of youth leadership and peer-led dialogue.
• Youth Workers in Acute Settings (YWAS): A pilot at Queen’s Hospital embedding youth workers in clinical environments, providing mentoring, safeguarding, and mental health support. Between November 2024 and January 2025, 54 assessments were completed - 82 per cent focussed on mental health.
• Summer Jobs Programme: Developed with Youth League UK and UK Youth, offering paid placements and strategic involvement in Youth Offer design. In 2024, the pilot supported 32 young people (40% with SEND), achieving a 92 per cent completion rate and five long-term employment outcomes. In 2025, the programme expanded to include paid Young Youth Worker roles embedded in the Education team - contributing to service design, outreach, and peer engagement.
• Household Support Fund (HSF): Targeted financial support for travel, digital access, emergency clothing, and cultural participation. It also enabled stronger collaboration between Youth Services, YJS, and Social Care through shared referral pathways and co-managed support.

• Youth Engagement: Over 200 young people directly shaped digital tools and service design. More than 25 young people have been paid the London Living Wage for their contributions to facilitation, outreach, and strategic planning.
• National recognition: Spotlighted by the National Youth Agency, DCMS, and BBC Children in Need, with invitations to speak at local and national events.
• Funding: Positive feedback from NHS staff led to an £80,000 uplift to expand the YWAS pilot across two hospital sites. Partnership working has also enabled successful funding applications totalling over £100,000, with VCFS partners mobilised to deliver targeted support and outreach.
• Employment outcomes: The Summer Jobs Programme 2024 achieved a 92% completion rate, with 40 per cent SEND participation and five long-term employment outcomes. Paid roles like Young Youth Workers and youth facilitators created meaningful employment and leadership pathways.
• Visibility and reach: The Youth Services directory now features over 30 organisations and 100+ opportunities.
• The Vibe Youth Centre now sees around 200 young people weekly due to successful co-location of services. The Borough also launched its largest youth forum to date, with up to 34 members attending weekly.
• Network growth: The Children and Young People’s Provider Network (VCFS network) grew by 40 per cent in its first year, strengthening collaboration and reach.
• Cost savings: Partnership working has reduced duplication, improved coordination, and delivered cost-effective outcomes across youth services.
• Leadership recognition: A visit from a Special Advisor to the Department for Education further validated the Borough’s youth-led practice and partnership working.

• Cross-sector partnerships with VCFS, NHS, education, and social care.
• Shared referral pathways and co-managed support systems
• Ongoing youth leadership and paid youth roles embedded in service design
• Quarterly reporting, practitioner feedback, and youth voice mechanisms.
• Continued promotion of the Borough’s youth services directory and digital platform

• Youth-led design builds trust, relevance, and long-term engagement.
• Commissioning relationships - not just services - creates space for innovation.
• Paid roles for young people strengthen ownership, confidence, and sustainability.
• Embedding lived experience into strategy strengthens outcomes and accountability.
• Partnership working drives cost savings and unlocks new funding opportunities.

Contact: [email protected]

• National Youth Work Week recap (YouTube video)
• Youth Safety Summit (You Tube video)
• Write Back Programme (You Tube video)>
• Youth services | Local activities, advice and information for young people.