UK-wide evidence of detached youth provision

Summary

StreetInvest approached Pro Bono Economics to help us consider how to demonstrate the value of a trust-based approach to working with detached young people in the UK.

Economist volunteers Dr Vindelyn Smith-Hillman and Michael Duncan compiled a report which details current evidence and considers a potential evaluation approach.

During the course of the project, 213 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were made to UK local authorities, with a 79% response rate.

Main FOI findings:

• 41% have never undertaken detached youth work
• Of the local authorities who currently undertake detached youth work, budgets have decreased year on year since 2012/13, by almost 40% in total
• So too have the number of individuals seen, which has decreased by almost 50%