Scarlett’s Friday Night
It’s a chilly Friday night in January, and Scarlett finds herself with no plans after her friend bailed on a trip to Brighton. “This morning she mentioned she couldn’t be bothered,” Scarlett explains with a hint of disappointment. “I think she’d rather just stay in.” The sky is overcast, and rain pours down as they stand outside her school in Tiverton, North London. Tonight, she and her peers will gather in a nearby park, braving the cold instead of opting for the more sensible choice of heading home. Scarlett longs for the company of friends but laments the difficulty of finding a free, welcoming place to hang out. “Sometimes I wish phones didn’t exist,” she admits. “People cancel plans to scroll through their feeds instead.”
The Decline of Youth Clubs
There are numerous reasons why today’s teenagers are becoming increasingly reclusive, but a significant factor is the diminishing number of places for them to gather. In 2009, 40 percent of Londoners aged 11 to 16 reported visiting youth clubs at least once a week. Fast forward to today, and youth clubs are becoming increasingly rare. Research from UNISON highlights that funding cuts have led to the closure of two-thirds of council-run youth clubs since 2010. Alarmingly, over 40 percent of councils in England and Wales no longer operate their own youth centers. Meanwhile, the high street can feel unfriendly, with reports of shopping centers, corner shops, and supermarkets often banning young people from congregating.
Youth clubs are more than mere hangouts; they play a crucial role in shaping young people’s futures. A report from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) revealed that London teens who lost access to a nearby youth club performed nearly 4 percent worse in their GCSE exams. “This decline is roughly equivalent to losing half a grade in one subject,” noted Carmen Villa, a PhD researcher at the IFS. Furthermore, young people were found to be 14 percent more likely to engage in criminal activity when deprived of such essential spaces.
Acknowledging Youth Clubs
This past weekend, the jazz group Ezra Collective acknowledged the importance of youth clubs while collecting the Brit Award for Group of the Year. “This moment is thanks to the incredible youth clubs, the fantastic teachers, and the supportive schools that help young people pursue their passion for music,” drummer Femi Koleoso remarked during the ceremony.
In Labour’s election manifesto, the party pledged £95 million to revitalize the UK’s youth services. However, in the recent October budget, these promised provisions were conspicuously absent.
The Loneliness Epidemic
The closure of youth spaces coincides with a troubling rise in loneliness among Britain’s youth. A report from the Co-op Foundation in 2024 revealed that 95 percent of young people aged 10 to 25 experience loneliness, marking a six percent increase from the previous year. Ezra Collective, who achieved success at the Brits, initially met at a youth club, highlighting the critical role these spaces play in fostering connections.
Creating New Spaces
In response to the lack of youth facilities, two parents are taking matters into their own hands. I meet Scarlett in a renovated loft space above a pizza restaurant off Queen’s Park High Street. Soon, this space will transform into Moot, a new youth club for Kilburn. Parents can pay £20 a week for their children to access the club, which will offer a variety of activities like yoga classes, drama productions, game rooms, silent discos, and, most importantly, comfortable sofas. “The biggest thing the kids told us was that they wanted a place to sit and chat,” shares Cheryl Calverley, co-founder of Moot and the IRL Revolution, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the lack of ‘third spaces’ for teenagers. “Right now, phones seem more appealing than socializing,” she adds.
News of Moot’s upcoming launch has already attracted kids from across the borough. Even while renovations are ongoing, a group of 13 to 16-year-olds frequently gather after school and on weekends to help build the space. The back wall is adorned with graffiti, marking their membership. “We want this to feel like a pub for teenagers,” Calverley explains. “We socialize in pubs, so why shouldn’t they have a similar space?” A bar will be constructed at the entrance, not for alcohol, but as a gathering point for kids.
Calverley and her co-founder, Paul Billingsley, both parents of teens, quit their advertising careers to launch the IRL Revolution campaign after noticing that young people were becoming increasingly uncomfortable with face-to-face socializing. “We observed a generation entering the workplace that struggled to enjoy the collaborative aspects of work,” Billingsley reflects. “They were having difficulty engaging socially.”
The pair were alarmed by how little their teenage children wanted to go out and experience the world. “This generation has been systematically removed from social spaces, and then they are handed the most addictive device ever created,” Billingsley expresses. “We wanted to create a place for kids to belong. We have a Friday night club and a Sunday club with the same activities each week to help build community.”
The Challenges of Establishing Moot
Securing funding and a location for the youth club proved challenging. “Whenever we mentioned it was for teenagers, landlords would often back out,” Billingsley recalls. Eventually, through community support, they found a space, although they were unable to secure any council funding. Moot was primarily funded through crowdfunding efforts from concerned parents.
When it comes to charging for membership, the founders feel they have little choice. “Many youth centers rely on dwindling government and charitable funding, leaving them constantly struggling to stay afloat,” says Billingsley. “By creating a parent-funded model, we eliminate our dependency on outside funding, allowing us to operate sustainably.”
Survey on Teen Social Lives
In January, the campaign surveyed 1,000 kids about their social lives. The results were startling: 40 percent of 12 to 17-year-olds preferred to stay home rather than meet friends in public, relying heavily on their digital lives. Nearly a third reported spending 21 to 28 hours a week on social media, and 87 percent admitted to only meeting friends in public once a month.
The kids at Moot express their anxiety about hanging out in public spaces. “When we ride our bikes to the park, adults often start filming us, thinking we’ll cause trouble,” shares Wolfie, 15. On the other hand, girls like Ruby, 13, recount their fears: “I’ve been really scared to go outside since I was chased by an older boy who tried to mug me.”
Alternative Youth Initiatives
Meanwhile, south of the river in Lambeth, another innovative initiative is underway. After school, a line of teenagers eagerly waits to enter a youth club now hosted at McDonald’s Brixton, a collaboration with BBC Children in Need. The top floor is transformed into a lively space filled with laughter, gaming, and free cheeseburgers, overseen by youth workers.
Terence Eagle, who has owned the Brixton franchise for 17 years, is amused when I mention the unexpected choice of venue for a youth club. “Our youngsters see this place as their safe haven. Instead of arresting troublemakers, we should engage with them,” he says. “When I ask kids why they come here, some say they don’t have Wi-Fi at home. We turn it back on, and then they behave.”
Since its launch last summer, the club has been oversubscribed, drawing teenagers from across the Lambeth borough. “When we first started, teachers observed students who wanted to come to school during holidays,” Eagle recalls. “What does that say about their home lives?”
The club operates on Mondays, aiming to support kids when they’re most vulnerable. “That’s right after the weekend when they’ve been at home, and they might need us,” says Joel Balkwill. “We’ve dealt with youngsters facing bullying on social media or even struggling with homelessness.”
Conclusion: Finding Connection
McDonald’s has long been a hub for teenagers in the UK. “Kids feel safer in central Brixton when they have someone to turn to and a place to gather. It has great transport links, especially since many have lost access to youth centers,” Eagle explains. “With limited job opportunities and few engaging activities, they often lack affordable options for socializing.”
Elijah and James, both 14, have made attending the McDonald’s youth club a weekly routine. After the pandemic, they found themselves preferring virtual interactions over real-life socializing. “I know so many people here now,” Elijah shares. “I’m socializing way more. If you had brought me here before, I wouldn’t have been able to talk to you at all.”
It’s been 15 years since austerity measures began in the UK, and despite government promises, youth clubs remain scarce. As teenagers navigate the rainy streets, they wait in anticipation for the chance to connect, often feeling disheartened by the lack of options.
At Moot in Kilburn, the teens express gratitude for having a welcoming space. “You can call or text friends, but you can’t truly hang out with them,” says Vinnie, 13. “You miss out on just enjoying each other’s company.” Scarlett nods in agreement. “I just want to do something that doesn’t involve scrolling.”
