Youth work ‘black holes’ in half of all council areas in England, study finds

Exclusive: First mapping of youth centres in decades shows poorer areas in north worst affected by cuts since 2010

• We're on a cliff edge': the struggle to keep youth services alive in Knowsley

Almost half of all council areas in England have youth work black holes" with few or no services despite high levels of deprivation and antisocial behaviour, analysis shows.

The first mapping in decades of youth centres across the country has revealed a nationwide crisis in youth support and significant inequality. Poorer areas in the north of England are shown to have been the worst affected by cuts to youth services since 2010.