Youth centres and clubs in Northern Ireland have funding assured only until the end of June. The Department of Education confirmed this guarantee covers the first financial quarter of 2026-27. Centres in council areas including Antrim and Newtownabbey, Belfast, Derry City and Strabane, Mid Ulster, and Causeway Coast and Glens face recruitment freezes for youth workers due to the short-term funding.

Karen Campbell of Roe Valley Residents Association in Limavady stated that plans to extend youth services to rural areas around the town are now limited by the three-month budget. The association's youth centre in central Limavady serves over 450 members up to age 25 and operates drop-in facilities five nights a week along with employability and personal development programs. Campbell noted that the uncertainty threatens retention of staff who have built relationships with young people.

Andrew Scott from the Department of Education told Stormont's Education Committee that youth centres support emotional health, well-being, leadership, social skills, and confidence. He described funding for these services as constrained, with the annual £37m allocation to the Education Authority no longer ring-fenced and available for other education needs.

Alliance Party MLA Nick Mathison, the committee chair, said some youth clubs may close after June. Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker called the funding approach reckless, stating it forces youth services to compete with other Education Authority pressures and amounts to punishment for young people. Baker added that the short-term guarantee has youth workers seeking other jobs.

Scott responded that the draft budget creates risk across all education services, with no assurance that youth services will be spared. John Lynch, CEO of Youthwork Alliance representing over 100 youth clubs, said such decisions signal that youth services do not matter.