“For as long as I can remember, I’ve grown up in youth spaces. Without these spaces I would have gone down a different path. Growing up in the area that I did in North West London, my mum always wanted me to stay on the right path and not get caught up with things I shouldn’t be caught up in. A space like a youth club has mentors, youth workers who are happy to spend time and invest into giving young people the time they need and deserve. Without youth clubs, young people can’t grow, they can’t evolve, they can’t experience certain things. Their opportunities are limited.

A youth club I was part of, had studio spaces that I really got involved with. I was meeting other young people who were really talented and passionate about music. Over time, opportunities started coming to me and I was asked to film my first ever music video. I became part of certain networks and meeting new people that I otherwise would not have.

The space is important. I had a space to create, to learn, to understand, and to grow as a creative. Also simple things, like being given groceries and having food to eat which for my mum as a single mother, was hard. When you don’t grow up with money, it’s harder to have these simple things.”

I wish all young people had a community which was accessible for any age, gender, race, no matter who you are you are able to come and use the space in whatever form you need. I’m a witness to it; I’m a product of youth clubs.

A lot of the people that I’m inspired by have grown up in youth clubs. They talk a lot about how a youth club is such an important place for young people to develop.

I wish for every young person to have a safe space to not only grow themselves, but grow their creativity, their passions, interests, and goals.

“I joined my youth club in my mid-teens when I was diagnosed with Autism. There wasn’t a lot of support around me and a place like this provided not only support, but things for me to do that I wouldn’t have been able to do for free anywhere else. There was a lot of mentoring support here too and it was right on my doorstep.

When I joined, I was really shy and in my shell. I didn’t have a lot of coping mechanisms and coming here really bought me out of that shell. School wasn’t really a safe space for me back then and a place like this helped me so much.

I wish all young people had access to youth spaces.”

“When I transitioned from year 10 to 11, it was a very big jump especially having GCSEs. Coming to a youth club helped me enjoy myself and gave me a break from reality. There were a lot of mentors at the youth club to speak to and who I could go to for advice on various things. They supported me a lot which I’m really grateful for. You could always speak to the youth workers like an actual friend.

I wish all young people had a supportive network.”

“Before I became a youth worker, I used to attend a youth club. I reached out when I was 16 due to things going on at home. Young people tend to join for a multitude of reasons. It could be that they’re friends are coming and they’ve heard it’s fun. It could be that they need an adult that’s outside of school and home that they feel they need to talk to. It could also be that we are running activities that they are interested in or want to get involved with and I think that’s really important.

Young people reach out when they’re ready and this voluntary participation is what makes youth work so important – we meet them where they’re at. If somebody just wants to come in for a conversation, then guess what? That’s what we’re having! The way youth work supports young people is huge. There are so many aspects to it. It can be emotional support, advice & guidance, skills development. Most times, we actually develop a relationship with the young person’s family too and are able to offer family advice & guidance whether it’s to do with benefits, housing or relationships.”

There are skills young people develop at a youth club that they wouldn’t necessarily develop in other settings. Coming through a youth club and experiencing work with a youth worker, I can see its development is so, so wide for everybody and I think it is so important.

I wish all young people could have access to free spaces where they feel comfortable to come in, ask for help, ask for advice, or just hang out, speak to people and be part of a fun activity, to have opportunities to eventually get into employment. I would love for young people to have that access where everybody has a space outside of home and outside of school where they can go and get different experiences because that’s what youth work is.”

“Being part of a youth club gave me more confidence with my learning disability. When I do get out in the workplace, I know what it’s like to be friendly, to meet new people, to have the confidence to get out and do so. Through Soapbox, and through my mentor here, I had support telling me that I can do it. If it’s hard, if you get let down, you get back up.

I wish all young people had access to youth work.”

“I first came to a youth club with my friend for a dance class. I then found out there was way more to do so I kept coming back. I also love music so I started recording here, learnt to sound engineer and made a few songs that are released now. It’s helped me build that a lot. By spending less time at home and more engaged in extracurricular activities, I’ve been able to explore different parts of myself. I used to be shy and because of this place I’ve grown into more of an extrovert.

Youth clubs support young people in many ways. They build confidence, help you make new friends, offer activities that stop you from thinking about the bad side of this life and instead do more of the things you want to.

I wish all young people knew that a space like this can exist.”