The youth clubs fighting to stay relevant in the social media age
BBC News 2026-07-10 01:48:01
Context: In Bradford, a city in northern England, youth clubs are evolving to stay relevant in the social media age. One such example is Romalandia, a cultural centre that offers a music studio, socializing, and other activities for teenagers from Gypsy, traveller, and Roma communities. However, many traditional youth clubs in England and Wales have been closing due to funding cuts, with over 1,000 council-run youth centres shutting down since 2010.
Key Facts
- The number of full-time youth workers in England fell by 34% in 2023-24 compared with 2012-13, according to YMCA data, with an even more pronounced drop of 46% in Wales over the same time period.
- Spending on youth services by local authorities in England has slumped by 73% since 2010, according to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, while in Wales, it has fallen by 27% over the same period.
- Romalandia, a cultural centre in Bradford, relies on private donations, local businesses, charities, and project-led community grants, as it does not receive local authority funding or government support.
- Mayor Sadiq Khan has allocated £50m of this year's budget for youth services across London, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has started opening hubs to help teenagers with jobs, wellbeing, and preventing them from falling into a life of crime.
- Research by the Youth Endowment Fund found that youth clubs can reduce offending by 13%, and 73% of youth workers reported informally mentoring children at risk, while 65% reported de-escalating conflicts and 55% reported tackling dangerous misinformation.