Birmingham City Council to retain and grow the city’s youth services

The consultation period concluded Friday 17 January 2025, after being extended due to the high level of feedback received from youth service colleagues, partner organisations and young people.

Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Families Councillor Mick Brown said that input has been instrumental in shaping a robust, sustainable, and enhanced operational model that will effectively deliver the service’s priorities and support young people across Birmingham.

During the consultation period, more than 1,500 responses were received from young people and youth workers, which drew on their collective knowledge and experience and fed into the redesign. Young people’s lived experience of service provision was also key to better understand their needs and how best to respond.

The goal of the redesign was to build on what worked well and to develop a sustainable youth service that is relevant for the way young people live their lives today, aligned with other services available to them.

The new staffing model which has been well received by staff, Trade Union partners and other stakeholders, provides an increased number of full time and part time permanent posts with no planned youth centre closures.

Birmingham City Council’s commitment to growing the youth service has resulted in the new model extending from the current full time equivalent of 31.3 to 40.80, which will provide both flexibility to respond to demand and meet the increasing focus on voice and influence, adolescence, and well-being of young people across the city.

Additional funding was obtained to grow the service, which allowed specialist posts to be built into the new model. These will ensure sustained outcomes for young people with SEND, those accessing Alternative Provision, improving health and ensuring equalities and those with care experience have been built into the new model.

Furthermore, all youth centres will remain open and will either be retained by Birmingham City Council or partner organisations. The Council received 134 applications from partners, which have been shortlisted to 39 viable applications, with at least one application per youth centre.

Councillor Brown said: “Throughout the consultation process we have listened to young people and our amazing expert staff, and I know people are relieved that we now have a sustainable model for this hugely important work.

“I know how important the Youth Service is to the young people of this city, and as the consultation has drawn to a close, I want to thank everyone who has helped us design a modern service that I hope can be expanded in the years to come to support young people in every community right across Birmingham."

Sue Harrison, Strategic Director for Children and Families, said: “Directors have been successful in obtaining additional funding to grow the service. This has secured the future of the service to ensure we can provide the right support, at the right time, at the right place. I would like to extend a special thank you to everyone for their contributions in shaping a long-term model that our young people deserve – the dedication and commitment during these challenging times is truly valued.”

Soulla Yiasouma, Head of Youth Services, said: “Birmingham’s youth service has been through a very challenging time and throughout this time our youth worker colleagues have continued to deliver an excellent service to our young people across the city. We are now in a position that we can focus on the future and move forward with a new model of delivery that gives us a good foundation where we can continue to develop. The future for the youth service is looking positive and we look forward to continuing to deliver a provision the young people of Birmingham deserve.”