Broadclyst Parish Council continue to buck the national trend and celebrate 12 years of youth work in partnership with YMCA Exeter 

Despite nationwide reports of youth work budget cuts, this month Broadclyst Parish Council is celebrating 12 years of investing in youth work in collaboration with YMCA Exeter.   

Since first partnering with YMCA Exeter in June 2014, Broadclyst Parish Council has taken proactive steps to expand its youth service provisions, increasing its budget specifically for youth work, despite severe budget constraints.  

“Partnerships like this one don’t just happen, they require genuine local leadership and a willingness to prioritise young people even when it isn’t easy,” says Gareth Sorsby, YMCA Exeter Joint CEO. “What Broadclyst Parish Council has chosen to build over 12 years, and the courage they’ve shown in continuing to invest when so many others have stepped back, is something we are incredibly proud to be part of.  

“For YMCA Exeter, this is exactly the kind of partnership we seek, rooted in community, long-term in its thinking, and unambiguous about its belief that young people deserve better. The outcomes we are seeing on the ground are a direct result of that commitment, and we hope it inspires other councils and organisations to follow their lead.” 

According to YMCA England and Wales’ State of Play Report, “Local authority expenditure on services for young people in England totalled £419m in 2024-25. This is a reduction of 10% from the previous year, the biggest annual decline in eight years. This is a 76% real-terms decline since 2010-11, representing a loss of £1.3bn.” 

Yet, despite this national decline, Broadclyst Parish Council made the decision in 2024 to increase its youth work expenditure, investing £50,000 annually to provide youth work provision to over 150 young people across Broadclyst, Tithebarn and Westclyst. 

“The best way to build community is through engagement,” explains Angie Hurren, Clerk to Broadclyst Parish Council. “Often it’s the teenagers that slip through the gap, but we want to make each young person feel that they matter. A youth group keeps young people physically busy, provides a safe space for face-to-face mental health support and helps to engender pride and a sense of belonging to their club.” 

From arts and crafts to games and cooking, the free weekly activities across the three semi-rural communities provide a fun, safe environment for young people to build friendships, but also a relaxed environment to share worries and feel heard. 

“My son loves this safe environment and is learning to socialise appropriately outside school,” explains one parent. “It’s very important to him and he absolutely loves going. The activities are great too. The staff are wonderful and are a key part of helping him in his journey of growing up. 

“Youth club has given my daughter a real sense of independence but in a much safer way,” shares another parent. “She enjoys a great deal of freedom but under the watchful eye of people who care. The activities that she takes part in are very wholesome and she comes home full of energy and stories about all of the things they have been doing. She is absolutely thriving both at home and at school and I believe that finding Broadclyst Youth Club had a real role to play in that.”   

In December 2025, the government released a new youth strategy, the first in over two decades. The youth advisory group that came together to create this blueprint for change states: 

“The wellbeing of young people must always be the priority. This requires well-funded and high-quality creative, social, and sports activities, along with the intentional commitment of adults across the community to play a vital role in young people’s lives. It also demands significant political and social investment to reduce poverty, improve infrastructure, and ensure public services can fully support their communities. The priority of any community must be its young people and this means listening to young people as experts.” 

By choosing to invest in youth work at a local level, Broadclyst Parish Council are forerunners, showcasing the results that come from giving young people access to trusted adults, providing a safe place to build friendships, get involved in meaningful activities, and supporting young people as they begin to explore their future – all of which are the focus of the national youth strategy.     

“I have been going to youth club for nearly a year now and have really enjoyed the time I’ve spent with the workers and other people here,” says one 14-year-old member of the youth club. “The youth workers have made me feel welcome and able to open up. I normally struggle with making friends but since coming to youth club it has helped my social skills as well as having fun. The environment feels like a family and the workers welcome everyone with open arms.” 

Another 14-year-old explains why she enjoys youth club, “Youth club is amazing because it gets me off my phone and doing fun, engaging activities. Being on my phone can be addictive but if I’m on it too long, it makes me really grumpy and I know it’s not good for my health. Going to youth club helps us make more friends and meet new people. Youth club is really great for developing social skills and characteristics.” 

Across the summer holidays, YMCA Exeter has extra activities planned for the youth clubs, including days out at water parks, sports and wellbeing camps, plus the opportunity to take part in green woodwork and forging at YMCA Exeter’s base in St David’s Hill.  

To find out more about the youth club opportunities in Broadclyst, Westclyst and Tithebarn, visit YMCAExeter.org