CEO Blog: Reflecting on Youth Work Week 2022

This week we’ve been celebrating Youth Work Week 2022, a time dedicated to raising the profile of the positive impact youth workers have on young people. Every young person has a bright future ahead of them, and with the right support from youth workers they can achieve anything.

During last year’s Youth Work Week, we worriedly looked ahead to a post-lockdown world, concerned about the long-term impact of social distancing and isolation on young people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.

2022 has brought additional challenges, with the cost-of-living crisis making things even harder for families living in poverty and on low incomes. We wanted to understand how the last few years have impacted young people; the way they are spending their time outside of school, their perception of the opportunities open to them, and their awareness of services designed to support them. So we worked with YouGov to commission a new research report: Generation Isolation. The report launched earlier this week is the biggest survey post-covid into young people’s social lives.

Based on a survey of 5,000 young people aged 11-18 our research found young people are incredibly connected digitally, with high levels of online interaction. The digital skills they develop are valuable, but this comes at a cost as they are living increasingly isolated lives. Like Benji, who shared that he used to spend 10 hours a day playing console games, attending more sessions at Wigan Youth Zone has helped him feel happier and more optimistic. You can read his story in The Metro.

77% of young people are spending most of their free time at home, and 20% spending most of their free time alone. Youth centres play a vital role in providing safe spaces for young people to connect with friends and trusted adults, which is crucial for their skills and development which they need in later life, however only 8% of young people go to a club.

The data showed that youth centres have a proven, positive impact on young people’s lives, enhancing their experiences and opportunities, skills and ability to overcome difficulties. Yet just 8% have access. We believe accessing youth work should be a right for every young person, and the need for youth work has never been more vital. It was great to see this important message featured in multiple media outlets, including BBC News and The Express.

We’re also pleased to publish our 2021/22 annual review this week – bringing to life the impact of our work across the country. Covid meant an unprecedented reduction in social interaction for us all, and it has been such a pleasure to see demand for Youth Zones grow amongst our members post-Covid. Our Youth Zones tell us that many young people returned with greater needs than pre-Covid and its effects are still being felt. We also know families are facing unprecedented challenges as the rising cost-of-living continues to bite. It’s clear that the support of youth workers has never been more vital. This increased demand is also seen within communities, with more Local Authorities approaching us to explore developing new Youth Zones than ever before. There is real excitement and a growing movement building around our work and mission. You can read the report here.

I’d like to end Youth Work Week 2022 in the same way we started, saying thank you to everyone who makes youth work happen; youth workers, partners and back-office teams. There’s no doubt that youth work changes lives, thank you to you all for the huge part you play in making a difference to young people.

Kathryn Morley, CEO, OnSide