Youth support in Oxfordshire receives government funding

Support provided for young people by Oxfordshire County Council and partners has been recognised by central government through a Local Youth Transformation Pilot grant of £634,347.  

The council is one of the few in the country that continues to invest significantly in youth services, despite having no statutory obligation to do so.

The funding will be used to help shape a sustainable model for youth services that can be adopted both locally and nationally.

Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Youth work is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is a cornerstone of our preventative approach, helping young people build resilience, access opportunities, and thrive in their communities.

“We’re not required to provide our targeted youth support service (TYSS) – we do so because we believe passionately that support should be in place locally for young people at risk of exploitation, youth violence, and social isolation.

“That’s why it is a privilege that we’ve been chosen by the government to further design youth support that is futureproof, inclusive of voluntary and grassroots organisations, and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities.”

This new funding from government will not be invested directly by Oxfordshire County Council. Over the next few months it will be distributed among local partners that provide youth support, for them to allocate to projects across the county.

Oxfordshire County Council already runs a targeted youth support service, working directly with children and young people from across Oxfordshire, aged 11-18 (up to 25 years for those with additional needs), and was originally launched in 2021.

Its work includes one-to-one support for young people to identify aspirations, build confidence and strengthen their community connections. Group work in schools addresses key issues such as exploitation, violence against women and girls, and risks associated with social media.

Detached street based youth work responds to local communities affected by crime and anti-social behaviour, building positive relationships in young people’s own neighbourhoods.

The council recently initiated a peer review involving the National Youth Agency, representatives from the youth sector, as well as trained young reviewers, to ensure the service continues to meet the needs and aspirations of the young people it serves and supports.

Participants praised the clear sense of purpose of the youth support service, purposefully developed through good recruitment, with a clear remit and a flexible approach to need. It was evident there is a person centred, strength based approach to supporting individual young people’s needs and circumstances.

The reviewers observed that quality detached youth work is being delivered in some areas of the county, with youth workers knowing their communities and engaging with diverse and underrepresented groups.

Councillor Sean Gaul, said: “We are committed to supporting young people holistically. By working in partnership with schools, community organisations, police, and health services, we explore community based solutions to broader challenges such as emotional wellbeing and school engagement.

“Additionally, we collaborate with the voluntary sector, recognising that local communities know their young people best and are key to shaping effective, inclusive support.”

Further information about the targeted youth support service is available on the Oxme website.

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