Youth centres have long been the heart of Birmingham's communities, but what remains of the city's youth services? Community Reporter Hannah Ahmed rang dozens of youth hubs to find out.
A Troubling Trend
Number after number flashed on my screen as I dialled dozens of youth centres across Birmingham, trepidation lining every call. Time after time, numbers for sites listed as operational online revealed nothing more than mystery as my mobile cut dead before a ring could even sound. After a while, I began to lose hope of speaking to anyone. Yet through the closures, there were sparks of optimism as multiple cheerful voices beamed brightly.
Each youth hub organiser I spoke with was optimistic and enthusiastic about youth services, making clear just how vital each facility is to Birmingham's young people. Some clubs have nurtured generations of Brummies, with some services providing aid for nearly 90 years. However, a worrying trend over the years has left streets bare as youth club after youth club shut down.
Declining Numbers
Looking at the reality of youth clubs in our city, back in 2011 there were 59 youth centres. But by 2024, research by BirminghamLive highlighted only 16 centres remained. The current figure of active youth clubs is yet to be confirmed by Birmingham City Council. Facebook pages that once thrived with information now stand barren, with devastating goodbye messages pinned to certain club sites.
Glimmers of Light
Despite the gloom, there were points of light through the dozens of phone calls I made. Certain youth hubs shared the pleasing news they had reopened after a period of closure. The Government is also supporting a new wave of Young Future hubs, with Birmingham already receiving a new site dedicated to providing services for young people across mental health and wellbeing, employment, and crime prevention. This hub, part of a wider national rollout, is currently housed at the Library of Birmingham before moving to a permanent Cannon Street site from summer 2026.
Birmingham City Council has been contacted for comment on the current number of council-run youth clubs.
