Nottingham City Council has launched its Youth Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2031, with an aim of ensuring every young person in the city has access to the opportunities, support and services they need to thrive.
The new five-year strategy was approved at the council’s Executive Board meeting on Tuesday 22 September and outlines how the council and its partners will work together to strengthen youth provision across the city, improve access to opportunities, and ensure young people’s voices are at the heart of decision-making.
Development of the strategy has been shaped by extensive engagement with young people. More than 5,000 young people contributed through a range of consultations, including the Growing Up in Nottingham Health and Wellbeing Survey, Child Friendly Nottingham survey, Young Futures Hub consultation and wider youth transformation engagement activity.
The evidence gathered highlighted key challenges affecting young people across the city, including access to mental health support, education and employment opportunities, affordability, transport, safety concerns and unequal access to services in different neighbourhoods. Young people also stressed the importance of being listened to and having meaningful influence over decisions that affect their lives.
Nottingham benefits from a strong and diverse youth sector, with more than 300 youth services operating across the city, many delivered by voluntary and community organisations.
However, the strategy identifies opportunities to create a more coordinated, inclusive and accessible system that ensures all young people can benefit from high-quality provision regardless of where they live.
Key priorities include:
- Strengthening youth voice, participation and democratic engagement
- Expanding high-quality youth spaces and provision across the city
- Building stronger partnerships with voluntary and community organisations
- Developing and investing in the youth workforce to improve capacity and quality of support.
The strategy also supports the expansion of Nottingham’s Young Futures programme, following the city’s designation as an early adopter for the Government’s Young Futures Hub initiative. Plans include developing a network of youth hubs, increasing access to open-access youth services and recruiting additional youth workers to support young people across Nottingham.
Councillor Linda Woodings, Executive Member for Children and Young People at Nottingham City Council, said: “We want every young person in Nottingham to have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. This strategy is a clear statement of our commitment to young people and has been shaped by their voices, experiences and ambitions.
“It was inspiring to hear from so many great young people, who have told us what matters most to them, from safe places to go and trusted adults to talk to, to better support with their mental health, education, skills and future careers. We have listened, and this strategy sets out how we will work with partners across the city to respond.
“Nottingham has an incredible youth sector and a wealth of opportunities already available. Through this strategy, we will build on those strengths, strengthen partnerships and create a more joined-up approach that improves outcomes and opportunities for all young people across our city.”
The Youth Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2031 also supports Nottingham City Council’s wider priorities around early intervention, family support, community safety, education, health and wellbeing.
By bringing together services, partners and communities around a shared vision, the council aims to create a city where all young people feel heard, valued and supported to reach their full potential. For more information about the Youth Sufficiency Strategy 2026-2031, visit the Nottingham City Council website.