London council launches £13.7m youth offer
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Tower Hamlets Council has launched a new £13.7m youth service, pledging that every ward in the borough will have a “youth space”.
The Young Tower Hamlets service has been produced with consultation among 400 young people and includes free summer holiday activities.
According to latest figures, the council’s population is the youngest in England and Wales, with an average median age of 30, however, it also has the highest child poverty rate in London.
More than half of the borough’s young people live in poverty.
A focus of the rebranded youth services offer in the borough will be on improving skills, providing opportunities to be creative as well a offering safe spaces.
Meanwhile, the summer activity programme for this year includes stay and play drop-in sessions, Thai Boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu and a five-day athletics event.
We have officially launched our new youth service @YTH_London !
— Tower Hamlets Council (@TowerHamletsNow) July 18, 2023
✅ £13.7m investment
📍 Youth space to be in every ward
🥎 FREE opportunities for young people to create, learn & develop
Read all about it > https://t.co/IlsZKWWfV8@LutfurRahmanTH @MaiumMiah pic.twitter.com/sn9JE8VqTo
“This new youth service will be a legacy that will empower the youth and the upcoming generation,” said the council’s young mayor Tahmid Hussen.
“They are the ones that will benefit the most and will be building, shaping and structuring this new youth service.”
The youth service offer is part of a £19m funding package for young people, which also includes £5.7m for universal free school meals for both primary and secondary school children and £1.1m to reintroduce education maintenance allowances and university bursaries.
“As someone who is the product of a youth service, I understand first-hand the value of youth workers as they guided, helped and supported me during my teenage years,” said Tower Hamlets executive mayor Lutfur Rahman.
“There is a correlation between education, schools, opportunities and youth services. Young Tower Hamlets will provide excellent opportunities alongside a safe space for every young person in the borough, to improve their life chances.”
