Reflections from the Annual Youth Work Conference 2025: Reducing violence affecting young people and driving positive outcomes for all young people 

The Annual Youth Work Conference, delivered in partnership with the National Youth Agency, came at a critical and timely moment. After years of austerity that slashed youth sector income by 60%, and with Labour now laying the groundwork for a national youth work strategy, this gathering offered a welcome opportunity for decision-makers to connect, reflect, and collaborate. 

True to the spirit of the sector, the event was vibrant, thought-provoking, and uplifting—especially in its centering of youth voice. Hosted at Coin Street, a charity with community at its heart, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for bringing together over 180 delegates from across England and Wales, including funders, local authority and housing commissioners, PCCs, VRUs, and councillors. 

Walking into the space, I was greeted by warm smiles at reception and a buzz of energy from colleagues across the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) and the NYA. The atmosphere was alive with anticipation, a clear sign of the powerful day ahead. 

Ben Lindsay OBE, co-founder of Power the Fight, hosted the event and opened by underscoring the critical need for cross-sector collaboration to tackle youth violence. He reminded us that youth workers play an essential, yet often undervalued, role in changing lives—and that the conference’s mission was to champion evidence-based practice in our work. 

We were honoured to hear from Jon Yates (CEO, YEF), who shared his personal story of how youth workers shaped his life. He made a strong case that we have a duty to rely on evidence—not instinct—when designing programmes to ensure we do no harm. Leigh Middleton (CEO, NYA) followed with an impassioned call to value and reinvest in preventative youth services, highlighting both the struggles of the sector and the growing opportunities ahead, particularly with renewed interest from local authorities and national government. 

We were especially grateful for the presence of Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Youth (DCMS), who shared reflections on the life-changing impact of youth work and reaffirmed the government’s interest in strengthening the sector. Her presence was both appreciated and impactful. 

Watch some of the highlights from the Youth Sector Conference

Throughout the day, we heard from many brilliant thought leaders—each offering sharp insight, real-world reflections, and inspiration from their local contexts. Your contributions made the day what it was. There are too many of you to name here, but we are deeply thankful for the wisdom and experience you brought to the room. 

Of course, no youth sector event would be complete without young people at its heart. Muna and Prince from YEF’s Youth Advisory Board were joined by Ivan, a youth consultant at NYA. Prince’s words struck a deep chord with many: “We are 30% of the population, but 100% of the future.” A powerful reminder of why we do this work. 

A special thank you goes to Harriet McCann and Lydia Allen for their exceptional leadership and attention to detail in curating the event for NYA—nothing was left to chance. And to my colleague Janina Zyborska-Telford at YEF—still the dream team! 

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, a testament to the speakers, the event team, and the shared commitment in the room. Thanks to everyone who joined us. And yes, someone did ask—will there be another conference next year? We certainly hope so. 

In the meantime, we’ll be keeping the momentum going—first stop: Youth Sector Practice this winter. Stay tuned.