Commissioned by the Centre for Young Lives, Alma Economics developed a bespoke cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to assess the value for money of a proposed national youth provision package. The model supports a wider vision to restore universal youth services and inform long-term investment, aligning with the ambitions of the Young Futures programme and National Youth Strategy.
Key proposals include:
1,000 new, repurposed, or refitted youth centres , including 210 Young Futures Hubs.
Year-round activities such as sports, arts, and after-school clubs.
An additional 10,000 trained youth practitioners , including fast-tracked staff for Young Futures Hubs.
We applied HM Treasury Green Book principles to estimate the net present value and benefit-cost ratios of policies delivering: trusted adult relationships (“someone to talk to”), structured activities (“something to do”), and youth centres (“somewhere to go”). This involved modelling the direct and indirect costs and monetised benefits, including reductions in youth crime, improved mental health, and long-term earnings uplift from educational attainment.
We estimate that the proposed youth provision will deliver at least £2.40 in benefits for every £1 invested, with financial breakeven expected within 15–20 years.
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