Our
goal and
mission
See how Youth Active is making a measurable difference in the lives of young people across Newham
The reality for young people
Too many young people are not given enough opportunity.
Isolated and unheard
Many young people feel completely alone in what they are going through. They reach out and are not believed. They speak and nobody listens. Over time that silence becomes something they carry everywhere.
Worried about money at home
Young people feel the weight of financial pressure in their household even when adults try to shield them from it. Worrying about whether there is enough is a daily reality for far too many of them.
Struggling to survive alone
For young people living independently, the challenge is even greater. Keeping up with rent, food and bills while trying to stay in education or find work is an enormous pressure that most people their age never have to face.
Nowhere affordable to go
Young people want to socialise, build friendships and simply spend time with people they care about. But the places that exist often cost money they do not have. Without affordable spaces, many end up with nowhere safe to be.
At Youth Active we see these young people every week. We do not wait for things to get worse before we act. We show up consistently, we listen without judgement, and we make sure every young person who walks through our doors knows they are valued.
The change we are making
In open space is important for the wellbeing of a child.
At Youth Active we get young people active and out of the four walls of their room, away from endless social media scrolling. We help them spend real time in nature because research consistently shows that regular time outdoors leads to better physical health and improved psychological wellbeing.
Our outdoor-based activities bring together young people from a wide range of backgrounds, putting them in regular contact with the natural world. We encourage them to speak up, take part and make the most of everything our outdoor programme has to offer. Open space is not a luxury for a child. It is a necessity.
Research evidence
What are the benefits?
Short-term impact
Teens who attended youth clubs regularly were less likely to truant from school, less likely to drink alcohol, more likely to have good health, and more likely to want to go to university.
Long-term impact
These positive changes persist over time. When they reached age 20, young adults who had attended a youth club were more likely to be in education and more likely to volunteer in their free time.
Who attends
In the 1970s and 80s youth clubs were more heavily used by teenage boys from poorer backgrounds. In the late 2010s attendees tended to be from better-off families, reflecting changes in funding and the types of activities on offer.
Expert view
“The findings show clear cohort differences in the characteristics of participants and highlight the short-term benefits of youth activities.”
Dr Cara Booker
ISER Senior Research Fellow, MiSoC Research Associate
Research findings from understandingsociety.ac.uk. The findings add to a growing body of robust evidence about the positive impact the youth sector has on young people.