Future Youth Zone has today responded to findings released by national youth charity OnSide that highlight the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on the out-of-school lives of young people, as well as the role youth centres play in giving them a way out of this ‘cost of living lockdown’.

Generation Isolation surveyed 5,072 young people, of which 14% were from London aged 11-18 in England, in partnership with YouGov. Many of the findings are startling, highlighting how the cost-of-living crisis is keeping young people ‘locked down.’

The report’s key findings are:

31% of 11-18 year olds in London have stopped out-of-school activities like sport, dance and seeing friends because of the cost-of-living crisis – as families divert funds.
Young people are living isolated lives with an increasing number of young people in London spending most of their free time on screens*, and 44% of young people spending most of their free time in their bedrooms.
Young people are living in a challenging context with 73% concerned about the cost-of-living crisis.
Future Youth Zone says that youth clubs like it are an untapped solution to the issues highlighted in the Generation Isolation report – because they give young people access to vital character-building opportunities and affordable activities that boost confidence, build skills for adulthood and, through access to trusted youth workers, help them navigate the pressing challenges and worries they face such as the cost of living.

Gavin Evans Chief Executive of the Barking and Dagenham and Croydon Youth Zones says “In the midst of these disheartening statistics, it is positive to find a beacon of hope in the form of Youth Clubs and safe spaces like our very own Future Youth Zone. These establishments have emerged as the much-needed escape routes from the cost of living lockdown that is gripping young people.

The power of Youth Clubs lies not only in their facilities but also in the supportive community they offer. It’s not just a place to hang out; it’s a sanctuary where young minds can dream, create, and build bonds that will last a lifetime. It is where their concerns and fears about the cost of living crisis can be transformed into ambitions and aspirations.”

This is backed up by the Generation Isolation research which shows the positive effect attending a youth centre has on young people. 77% of young people who attend a youth centre in London say it has helped them overcome difficulties and 87% say it allows them to learn new skills. Generation Isolation also shows that youth club attendees have richer social lives because they spend more time face-to-face with friends (17% spend most of their free time with their friends vs 11% of those in London ).

In addition the research highlights that young people who attend youth centres are better prepared for adulthood than those who don’t – just 13% of young people who attend youth clubs said they do not have the opportunity to learn the skills to help them become independent like cooking, managing money, accessing employment, compared to 18% of all young people.

However, there is a lack of widespread opportunity to gain these benefits, with just 20% of young people in London currently attending a youth centre and 47% saying they do not have a youth club near them.

Future Youth Zone supports 4126 of young people across East London providing 7 days a week access to activities, opportunities and support from youth workers for just 50p a session and £5 a year membership.

One of the young people supported by Future Youth Zone Gilbert age 18 , who said: “At Future Youth Zone I really appreciated the food, sometimes I don’t even have the money so I couldn’t even afford the £1 hot meal on sessions, after a basketball match, I would just watch my friends eat. But because they have been able to offer free meals during the wintertime I am now eat with my friends after enjoying all the activities.”

Lastly, Generation Isolation also highlights the mental health challenges faced by the region’s young people. 49% of young people in London report high or very high levels of anxiety**. When asked why, the top reasons were: Worries about the future (57%), exam pressure (38%), what people think of them (34%).