Youth Centres: Closures

(asked on 14th May 2026) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many youth clubs have closed in the past 10 years.


Answered by
Baroness Twycross Portrait
Baroness Twycross
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This question was answered on 28th May 2026

The Government does not centrally collect data on total youth club closures. However, YMCA research indicates that the number of local authority-run youth centres in England fell from 860 in 2011-12 to 379 in 2024-25.

We are committed to securing a bright future for our youth clubs, and in December 2025, DCMS launched the “Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy” 10 year plan. This strategy will ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. It is funded by over £500 million from DCMS for fulfilling things to do outside of school, support when and where young people need it, and more youth clubs and trusted adults. This includes £350 million to refurbish or build up to 250 youth facilities through our Better Youth Spaces programme.

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