Youth clubs: they transform futures and cities, so why aren’t businesses contributing more?

In the period from 2011 to 2021, funding for youth services in the UK fell by more than 60%. Unsurprisingly, during that time, nearly half of the country’s youth clubs closed. Four in ten local authorities in England and Wales have no council-run youth centre in their area. Youth clubs aren’t just places to hang out with friends, they offer opportunities to learn new skills, practise hobbies, express creativity and connect with trusted adults who can offer support for young people’s health and wellbeing, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The benefits ripple out through those young people’s lives, and the communities they are part of. So often neglected in the shadow of education and health priorities, youth service provision is a critical tool for achieving social equality, and one that businesses wanting to contribute to their local community could do much more to support.

The absence of youth clubs is visible

New research commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport found that local authorities with reduced youth service provision had a corresponding increase in a range of crimes and anti-social behaviour in the subsequent year, including bike theft, shoplifting and possession of weapon offences. It was also found that more young offenders went on to re-offend. Youth services benefit those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged in significant ways, and when those provisions are not available, the evidence shows that the outcomes for young people worsen.

Their positive impacts persist through time

In contrast, positive experiences with youth clubs can continue to benefit young people into their twenties, thirties and beyond. Those who attend youth activities regularly as teenagers go on to be more likely to have paid work, aspire to or attend university and have lower levels of involvement with alcohol and drugs. Of course, this has long term benefits for the individuals involved, and the communities they are part of.

Cuts to youth services are rising as pressure on local authority budgets increases, and other obligations are prioritised. In some places, the voluntary and social enterprise sectors are stepping into the breach, and there is scope for businesses seeking opportunities to contribute positively to their local community to step in.

There are some remarkable examples of what can be done

There are examples of amazing youth clubs, resisting the trend, and continuing to provide their services to young people in their area. Laburnum Boat Club in Hackney, London is one example. It offers young people the chance to do sporting activities, many connected to the canal that it backs on to, including kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding, as well as art and other creative activities. BLGC (Bolton Lads and Girls Club) is another example of a place where young people can go to access activities for fun and personal development, as well as support from trusted, qualified professionals. Local companies can support BLGC in a number of ways, including becoming a patron, fundraising, including attending the annual Bolton Beer Festival fundraising event, and volunteering.

OnSide, a charity that builds state-of-the-art youth centres in the UK’s most deprived areas, including Manchester Youth Zone, recently conducted research into young people’s experiences. It found that nearly one in five young people spends most of their spare time alone, while 76% spent most of it on screens. 50% say they feel anxious or very anxious and 40% of young people say they have no opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Youth service provision is critical to addressing all of these challenges, and creating opportunities for young people to engage in their local community, and find ways to lead fulfilling lives. Youth clubs may seem like a small intervention, but they have been shown to change lives, and cities by reducing strain on public services, lowering crime rates, and nurturing a more engaged and productive young population.

This is an opportunity to create meaningful positive impact

Young people need more allies from across their communities, not least businesses looking to create positive impact. Establishing a meaningful relationship with an organisation that supports young people can offer opportunities for a business to contribute in many ways, not just financial or in-kind donations, but long or short term volunteering, opportunities for young people to explore career experiences and more. There are examples of effective partnerships between businesses and large-scale programmes aimed at supporting young people with their employability or digital skills. However, the dramatic collapse in the numbers of youth clubs, and consequently the huge numbers of young people no longer able to access their services, suggests there is a significant opportunity for businesses to commit to supporting their local communities, and in so doing positively shape them now and for years to come.