Oxfordshire Youth Services Awarded £634,000 Government Grant

Support for young people in Oxfordshire has received a major boost with a £634,347 grant from the government’s Local Youth Transformation Pilot.

Oxfordshire County Council is one of a small number of local authorities still investing heavily in youth services, despite not being legally required to do so. The funding will help shape a sustainable model for youth support that could be adopted locally and nationally.

Councillor Sean Gaul, 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.”

The grant will be distributed among local partners over the coming months to support youth projects across Oxfordshire, rather than being spent directly by the council.

The council’s targeted youth support service, launched in 2021, works with young people aged 11 to 18 — and up to 25 for those with additional needs — providing one-to-one support, group sessions in schools, and street-based youth work.

A recent peer review, involving the National Youth Agency and young reviewers, praised the service’s person-centred and strength-based approach, as well as the quality of detached youth work being delivered in local communities.

Councillor Gaul added: “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.”