Importance of youth work

That this House notes the incredible work and dedication of youth workers across the UK who have been supporting young people throughout this pandemic when all other support networks have been closed or have been inaccessible; further notes the decision by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to recognise youth workers as key workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that youth work is a degree entry profession and that the JNC agreement states that all professional youth workers must have a degree or equivalent qualification; recognises that youth workers have faced real-terms pay cuts of as much as 24 per cent over the past 10 years; believes that all young people across the UK should have access to a statutory funded, wide-ranging and universal youth service with ring-fenced funding from central Government which is delivered by local authorities working closely with schools and youth voluntary organisations; and further believes that the joint trade union claim for youth worker to receive a 10 per cent pay rise plus an improvement in work-life balance would deliver real improvements to the well-being of staff, and consequently to the quality of youth services provided.