Children and teenagers across Nottingham are set to get wider access to youth workers, practical support and enrichment activities under a new city-wide expansion backed by Nottingham City Council.
The plan will place 40 Youth and Development Workers in neighbourhoods across the city, with staff working from community spaces, schools and street-based settings. The aim is to make trusted adult support easier to reach for young people who may need guidance, safe activities, careers advice or help building confidence.
A separate Nottingham enrichment programme will also expand access to music, arts, sport and leadership opportunities, with an initial focus on children and young people from low-income families and groups less likely to take part in these activities.
Youth workers based closer to local communities
The expanded youth support offer is designed to move help into the places young people already use. Youth and Development Workers will operate across Nottingham neighbourhoods rather than being limited to one central service point.
According to the council, the support will include guidance from trusted adults, opportunities to develop skills and wellbeing, access to careers advice and practical help, and safe activities in community settings.
For families, that could mean a shorter route to support when a young person needs advice, confidence-building activities or a structured place to spend time outside school. For schools and community groups, it may also give clearer links into youth services when concerns arise around attendance, wellbeing or future planning.
More music, sport, arts and leadership places
The enrichment programme is expected to support more than 1,000 children and young people in its first phase. It will focus on widening access to activities that can be difficult to afford or arrange, particularly for households facing cost-of-living pressure.
Three areas have been identified for the first stage: expanding music opportunities across Nottingham, including support during key transition points in education; developing a new leadership programme for children and young people; and increasing awareness of arts, sports and other enrichment activities through targeted work with families and schools.
The council says the programme will work with schools, community organisations and delivery partners to reduce financial and practical barriers. That could include helping families find out what is available, improving referral routes and making sure opportunities reach children who are not already taking part.
Part of a £7.6 million frontline services investment
The youth expansion forms part of Nottingham City Council’s wider £7.6 million frontline services investment. The broader programme is focused on supporting residents and communities with cost-of-living pressures and improving access to help where it is most needed.
For young people, the council is linking the investment to wellbeing, confidence, resilience and future aspirations. It also says enrichment can support school attendance, attainment and a stronger sense of belonging when children are able to take part in activities alongside their peers.
The first phase will target children and young people least likely to engage in enrichment activities. That approach matters because access to music lessons, organised sport, cultural activity and leadership programmes can depend heavily on family income, transport, awareness and local availability.
Rollout over the coming months
The expanded youth provision and enrichment programme will be rolled out over the coming months, with activity shaped around the needs of local communities and schools across Nottingham.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said the investment would help more young people access trusted adults, practical help and positive opportunities close to home.
“We know that early support and positive experiences can make a real difference to a young person’s life,” she said. “This investment is about ensuring more young people can access those opportunities, helping them thrive and reach their full potential.”
Source: Nottingham City Council
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This report is based on Nottingham City Council information about the planned youth support and enrichment expansion.
- Checked the stated number of Youth and Development Workers against the source text.
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- Nottingham City Council
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- 2026-06-03 18:09
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