Strategic youth work development and investment in Blackburn with Darwen

In 2010, youth services in Blackburn with Darwen faced significant budget cuts due to Government austerity measures. This led to fewer suitable services for young people. In 2017, responsibility for youth services moved from the Culture and Leisure Department to Children’s Social Care, with the aim of reorganising services to better meet the growing needs of children and young people despite financial pressures.

A major challenge was the lack of comprehensive youth provision. Initially, the council commissioned universal youth services from two main providers - the Onside Youth Zone and the local football trust - which focused on neighbourhood programmes. However, there was a clear need for broader youth work, including support for young people’s social and emotional development.

To address this, the council started working with partners to develop targeted youth support through a multi-disciplinary adolescent panel. This brought together public services and third-sector organisations to create a collaborative approach with increased capacity.

The council helped establish a Strategic Youth Alliance, partnering with local third-sector youth organisations. This alliance, now known as Young Blackburn with Darwen, is developing as an infrastructure charity that empowers community and voluntary groups to lead youth provision. Comprising 11 partners, the group focuses on improving the quality of youth work and professional development to raise standards across the borough.

To promote youth work as a career, the alliance supports training and qualifications tailored to local needs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Blackburn with Darwen moved meetings online, which improved partner engagement and knowledge sharing, especially about detached and street-based youth work, ensuring services continued despite lockdowns.

After the pandemic, the council recommissioned universal youth services via a tender process. Working closely with the Young Blackburn with Darwen Board, the community sector was given a leading role. This shift resulted in a stronger, more sustainable youth services model where the council focuses on commissioning while the third sector leads service delivery.

BwD secured approximately £9 million from the Youth Investment Fund (YIF). This investment funded two new youth centres, refurbishment of existing facilities, and expanded youth services in local children’s centres.

A key feature of the strategy is co-production with young people to ensure their voices shape service design.

Providers deliver universal and detached youth work collaboratively across neighbourhoods. For every council-funded universal youth session, partners match it with an additional funded session. Young Blackburn with Darwen has also developed new youth spaces in family hubs, increasing access during evenings and weekends.

Although third-sector groups face challenges in a competitive funding environment, the collaborative model strengthens partnerships and ensures efficient use of resources.

The council’s youth team delivers targeted youth support through referrals from social care, police, education, and others. Their bespoke programmes aim to remove barriers to progression and include informal education based on the National Youth Agency (NYA) curriculum. Staff trained in outdoor activities work with schools on accredited programmes and with police to reduce anti-social behaviour. Third-sector partners promote community cohesion.

Funding for these activities comes from the Strengthening Families Programme and core youth work budgets, with an ongoing focus on preventing placement breakdowns and reducing the numbers of children entering care or the criminal justice system.

The council continues to invest in youth services by strengthening partnerships and exploring new funding streams. There is a focus on better integrating youth work with education, while ensuring youth participation and engagement remain central to all initiatives.

• Applying for small, short-term funding is difficult and impacts service delivery.
• Capital funding has enabled new and refurbished youth centres, but revenue funding is needed to operate them.
• Local authorities, as place-shapers, should have the funding and capacity to commission local community and voluntary sector providers to meet young people’s needs.

Recommendations for Other Councils

• Foster strong partnerships with the third sector to build sustainable youth service models.
• Prioritise co-production with young people in service design.
• Secure both capital and revenue funding to ensure facilities can be effectively used.
• Support workforce development to raise youth work standards and career viability.

Imran Akuji

Head of Service – Partnerships, Intensive Support, Policy & Performance

Children's Services 
[email protected]