Purpose

At Cabinet on the 7 March 2023 Cabinet approved the approach set out in the report to the development and grant funding of youth services in Bristol across 7 years and authorised the Executive Director Children and Education to take all steps required to agree grant terms and enter into grant agreements to award grants for youth services across the next 7 years at a total cost of £6m.
The grant funding is allocated to deliver services in North, East Central and City Centre Bristol. The decision aligns with the North, East Central and City Centre Bristol Locality Youth and Play Development Plan (2026–29).
The funding supports delivery across Priority 1-3 wards and underpins the successful implementation of the North, East Central and City Centre Bristol Area Action Plans, ensuring continuity of youth and play services including open access youth work, play ranger sessions, detached youth work and targeted provision. This approach is consistent with the Council's established locality-based youth model developed through the South Bristol Area programme and complements the wider city-wide youth infrastructure, including the 224 Youth Zone.
The programme will operate alongside the DCMS-funded Young Futures Hub in East Central Bristol and supports delivery of the Local Youth Transformation Programme, strengthening early-help pathways, improving access to high-quality youth provision and reducing inequalities for young people across neighbouring priority wards.

Decision

Approve allocation of multi-year (1 October 2026 to 31 September 2029) grant funding totalling £1,901,421 over the 3 years to a number of providers.

Alternative options considered

No viable alternative options were identified. A partnership-led model remains the preferred approach due to alignment with the North, East Central and City Centre Bristol Play and Youth Partnership governance, evidence base, and local need.