Concern for youth arts services ahead of budget

A national touring theatre company is warning against potential funding cuts to youth services ahead of the government’s autumn budget announcement.

Lincoln-based Zest Theatre says cuts to public services over the past decade have already taken a toll and further reductions could jeopardise crucial spaces for young people.

The theatre says a project it ran during the summer called The Zone, which offered young people aged 11 – 18 the opportunity to engage with arts and culture in a pop-up space, helped them feel valued and fostered important social connections.

An evaluation of the project found almost a third (30%) of participants said The Zone was their first-ever experience of arts and culture outside school. Over half (55%) reported feeling more cheerful after their time there.

But the theatre says such initiatives are at risk if the funding landscape remains uncertain.

“Young people need tangible, lasting change and more spaces where they can exist and flourish,” said Toby Ealden, the theatre’s artistic director. “It is vital that youth services are not just maintained but expanded, so that projects like The Zone can continue and grow across the UK.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will present her autumn budget on Wednesday (30 October).