Youth Provision: A vital resource for young people’s growth and wellbeing

More than 100 young people across Essex have shared their views on why youth clubs and targeted youth provision is so important to their mental health and wellbeing.

Funding from our 2024 Community Grants Programme is well underway and as part of our monitoring, we’ve been doing some work to understand how young people view the support they are currently receiving.

The Violence and Vulnerability Unit and Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services asked a sample of young people attending our seventeen 2024 / 2025 grant funded projects to complete an anonymous questionnaire about their experiences at the project they currently attend.

Their feedback suggested that youth clubs play a crucial role in the development and wellbeing of young people, providing them with a safe and supportive environment to grow, learn, and thrive. We know from our Listening Projects that it is so important our young people have places to go where they feel safe, with people around them that they feel safe with.

Big Ambition for Youth Work

The UK’s Children’s Commissioner’s Big Ambition for Youth Work aims to ensure that every child has access to high-quality youth provision in their local area. The feedback from our Essex young people highlights the significant, positive impact of these services.

• Building Connections:90% of young people agreed that youth clubs help them build connections with trusted adults.
• Safety:83% felt that youth clubs help them feel safer.
• Mental and Emotional Wellbeing:82% reported a positive impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing.
• Voice and Opportunities:82% felt that youth clubs give them opportunities to have their voices heard.
• Positive Choices:77% agreed that youth clubs help them make positive choices around keeping safe.

We asked young people specifically what difference the project was making to them, and several key benefits were highlighted. Having a more meaningful use of time came across strongly – time spent at the youth provision was helping them be sociable, make friends and improve their social skills.

Improved confidence and self-esteem were rated highly, with attendance at the projects boosting confidence, encouraging positivity, and increasing happiness.  Many young people cited how the projects had helped them manage some serious issues and personal challenges which had led to them feeling more in control over anxiety, depression and emotions.

The VVU grant funded projects vary from specific programmes working with young people at risk of violence and abuse, to support for young carers through to after-school provision for young people vulnerable to exploitation and targeted youth work – all delivered by not-for-profit groups which know their local communities.

Why is it important?

Throughout the questionnaire young people suggested that taking away youth provision would have serious repercussions. With nowhere to go, many said they would be just sitting at home and struggling without counselling and support of trusted adults. Some poignant responses included concerns about potential involvement in drugs, getting into trouble, and feeling lonely if the provision ceased to exist.

The final question asked young people what they had learnt from attending their local project and numerous positive answers were given including self-belief, respect, social skills, being able to ask for help and teamwork.

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chair of the Violence and Vulnerability Partnership said: “Investing in youth work is investing in the future. Youth clubs provide essential support and opportunities that help young people develop into confident, capable, and resilient individuals and members of our community.

“Youth clubs are more than just a place to spend time; they are a lifeline for many young people, offering essential support, access to trusted adults, and opportunities for personal growth. I am absolutely committed to our grant programme, it is vital for the future wellbeing and success of the next generation.

“The grants programme we deliver costs less than £40 per young person over 12 months; by funding these programmes, we give our young people the opportunity to thrive, reducing the risk of them becoming involved in serious violence and giving them the opportunity to contribute positively to society.”

The projects awarded funding in the 2025 – 2026 Violence and Vulnerability Community Grants will be announced in the next few weeks.