Oversight and funding of youth justice services

Closes 11 Sep 2026

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Part B: Stable and sustainable funding

16. Do you agree that we should reform the funding formula, recognising that it is likely to result in a significant redistribution of funding across services in England and Wales?

Please exaplain your response.

17. Do you agree that the principles outlined above are the right ones to guide the design of a new funding formula?

Please exaplain your response.

18. Do you agree that allocating MOJ funding to youth justice services across England and Wales based on relative levels of need is the most appropriate approach?

Please explain your response.  

19. Stakeholders have highlighted the limitations of using first time entrant data as a proxy for demand and need. Aside from diversion data currently collected by the YJB, what alternative or supplementary datasets could be considered to provide a comprehensive measure of need in your local area?

When providing alternative or supplementary datasets please ensure that any proposed data meets the following criteria:

  • available across England and Wales
  • can be disaggregated to local levels
  • published data
  • recent / up-to-date
  • likely to be updated regularly in the future
  • not directly influenced by youth justice services to avoid perverse incentives
20. To what extent do you support providing all youth justice services with a standard allocation towards core business costs before the remaining funding is distributed through the funding formula?

You may wish to give reasons in the text box.

21. If a new funding formula is introduced, which approach to managing the transition would you prefer?

Option A: Faster implementation, for example over 3 years - services would reach their target allocations sooner and national funding would be distributed in line with local need - but the sharper pace of change could create instability for some services, particularly where funding levels would need to adjust more quickly to align with the formula.

Option B: Gradual implementation, for example over 6 years - changes would be phased over a longer timeframe, providing greater stability for services, but delaying the move to a fully needs-based distribution.

Please explain your answer, including any practical examples of how different rates of change would affect your service's ability to plan, manage resources and deliver services effectively.

22. Which of the following future grant arrangements would best support effective delivery of youth justice services in your local area?

Option A: Maintain the current arrangement (separate agreements for the core grant and Turnaround funding).

Option B: Merge core grant and Turnaround funding to form one grant agreement but maintain a ringfence for the delivery of early intervention activity (currently delivered through the Turnaround programme).

Option C: Merge Turnaround funding into the core grant, with no ringfencing for early intervention and give local authorities the flexibility to manage this locally.

Please explain your answer, including any potential benefits or risks. If you select Option C, please comment on the potential impact on prevention and early intervention activity if funding was no longer ringfenced.

23. Current grant arrangements for the core grant and Turnaround funding are in place until March 2029. However, if Option B (merge core grant and Turnaround funding to form one grant agreement) were implemented, when should this change take effect?

Option A: as soon as possible (making adjustments to the current grant arrangements)

Option B: after the current spending review period (no earlier than April 2029)

 Please explain your answer, including any potential benefits or risks.

24. To what extent do you agree that greater public visibility of partner contributions (including how they vary between areas) would strengthen accountability, support management boards to hold partners to account, and drive partners to meet expected levels of engagement and funding contributions?

You may wish to give reasons in the text box.

25. What additional measures would most help strengthen partner contributions in your area?