Service cuts may expose rural youth to county lines

A lack of funding for rural youth work in England is leaving young people exposed to the dangers of county lines drug-dealing gangs, it is claimed.

The amount spent per head on youth work for 11- to 19-year-olds in rural England, £47, is 25% less than in urban areas, and half the level a decade ago.

The National Youth Agency said rural employment prospects and mental-health support access were also a concern.

The government said it had given youth-work charities £100m over the pandemic.

But the National Youth Agency is calling for it to implement a long-term spending plan.

'Increasing trend'

County-lines gangs often use vulnerable children to help them bring illegal drugs into areas across the UK - and move money out.

The National Youth Agency said it had seen an "increasing trend" for young people in county towns and rural areas to be targeted.

Youth workers were vital in protecting those at risk by providing a known and trusted adult, chief executive Leigh Middleton told BBC News.

But, he added: "As local authority budgets have shrunk, [resources have] gone to our towns and cities."

Social mobility

Youth work can take many forms, supporting young people of all ages.

In Bridgwater, Somerset, 17-year-old Dan has struggled for work.

"In the smaller towns, there is not really much you can do, or look into, to get a job," he said.

"They are mainly in the cities and bigger towns."

Dan, 17, has struggled for employment opportunities

Poor social mobility is a key issue in rural areas, campaigners say.

And there are often fewer vocational courses on offer.

But Dan's local youth service, Young Somerset, is trying to combat this.

And through the charity's provision, he has achieved a qualification in mechanics.

"It has opened up a better opportunity for me with apprenticeships," he said.

"It has helped me for the future."

The charity Young Somerset supports young people of all ages across the county

In the Quantock Hills, a group of 12- and 13-year-olds taking part in Young Somerset's summer activities are lighting campfires and learning about habitat conservation.

And as they sit smiling in the woodland, they are keen to express how much they have enjoyed their day.

"I'm glad I've done this," Tavey says.

"[If I was at home], I'd probably be sat on my bed watching YouTube."

Elissa, 18, says she relied on Young Somerset for mental health support during the pandemic

Young Somerset also runs wellbeing services and a shop to help young people who have special educational needs learn life skills.

And with services becoming stretched during the pandemic, the charity said it had seen an "influx" of young people seeking mental-health support.

One of them, Elissa, 18, began feeling isolated while furloughed from work.

"I'd already struggled with mental wellbeing beforehand - and I think lockdown just made it worse," she said.

'Levelling up'

Elissa joined online groups run by Young Somerset, meeting new friends - and now has a volunteering role with the charity to help others.

"Reaching out to Young Somerset, and gaining that trust with them, made it much easier [to cope with my anxiety]," she said.

Anntoinette Bramble, of the Local Government Association, told BBC News "increasing demand and cost pressures" meant local authorities were having to cut youth services "to prioritise spend on looked-after children and child-protection services".

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said its £500m Youth Investment Fund, "designed to achieve levelling up across the country", remained a manifesto commitment by the end of this Parliament, in 2024.