Growing up, I faced numerous challenges that could have easily led me down a path of crime and despair. However, my life took a different turn, thanks to the transformative power of music, peer support, and healthy adult relationships. Engaging in the arts provided me with a unique outlet for self-expression and personal growth, helping me navigate my emotions and build confidence. These experiences inspired me to found my music charity, the Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF), aiming to offer the same opportunities to other young people.
The Impact of the Arts in Youth Work
Arts-based youth work is essential in tackling the critical issues facing young people today. With over 11 million young people in the UK, making up more than a fifth of the population, they are the future workforce and leaders. However, they encounter numerous barriers to success, including mental health struggles, educational inequities, and social disadvantages.
For many young individuals, engagement in the arts through youth work provides a therapeutic tool, helping them explore their identities, express their emotions, and build confidence. Trusted relationships with adults in these creative settings further underscore the importance of the arts in supporting the personal and social development of young people.
I started my charity in 2009, when there was ample funding for young people, thriving youth centres, and thousands of youth workers across the capital building relationships and trust with young people, helping them become healthy, ambitious, supported, and guided young adults. I am really proud that we have thus far withstood the despicable cuts to youth services over the past 14 years and we have continued to innovate, adapt, persevere, and keep young people at the forefront of our mission.
As a leader and champion of young people in London, I see firsthand the vital role youth services play in shaping young lives. These services offer a sense of belonging, a safe space, and the opportunity for young people to enjoy being young. Yet, the day-to-day impact of these services often goes unnoticed by the public, overshadowed by the pressing issues that dominate headlines. But let me be clear: the consequences of cutting youth services funding are dire and far-reaching.
Recent figures uncovered since 2010 show that funding has plummeted from £1.4 billion to just under £429 million in 2018/19—a staggering 70% decline. This isn't just a statistic; it's a harsh reality that affects thousands of young lives and communities, not just those that are underserved.
These cuts have had devastating consequences, including a rise in anti-social behavior and youth crime. Over the past decade, more than 4,500 youth work jobs have been cut, and 760 youth centres have closed.
Youth services are not a luxury—they are a necessity. They provide critical support to young people, helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence, and offering guidance, mentorship, and opportunities to develop skills and build confidence. Without these services, we are failing our young people, leaving them vulnerable and isolated.
Our young people deserve better. They deserve a society that values and invests in their future. The nearly billion-pound decline in funding for youth services is a betrayal of our commitment to the next generation and with fewer places for young people to connect, belong, and develop innate creative talents it's paramount that no matter who leads this country, we need to be making the change we want to see, by standing with and for the future generation of leaders, artists, creators, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF)
The Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) has significantly enhanced the skills, development, and confidence of young people through activities like podcast planning, song creation, and group collaborations. Many participants have reported increased happiness and well-being, with nearly 90% noting positive changes.
Podcasting sessions, in particular, provided a safe, cathartic space for youth to express themselves, helping them feel listened to and valued. The Media Bus's impact was so profound that some participants traveled across London to attend multiple sessions. Additionally, 88% of the youth gained more knowledge about various activities, leading them to receive personalized support through the Pathways program, which connects them with further opportunities based on their needs and interests.
Pathways Into Opportunity
The Pathways program empowers young people aged 14-19 to take charge of their lives, enhancing personal development and well-being. It offers progression routes to explore education, creative careers, and health support. Key outcomes include increased happiness, optimism, self-confidence, and a stronger sense of belonging to a creative community. The program has provided 48 youths with one-on-one mentoring, helping them navigate challenges and access 72 opportunities within YUAF and with external partners, including creative industry brands.
YUAF Futures is a program designed for marginalized youth aged 16-19, providing opportunities to enter desirable workplaces or gain skills and training that enhance their prospects, thereby increasing diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Participants explore career choices and gain real-world insights, enabling them to make informed decisions through experiential learning. Key outcomes include improved well-being, self-confidence, access to opportunities, and employability skills.
Arts-based youth work has the power to transform lives, as it did mine. The Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) and its programs like Pathways and Futures are making significant strides in empowering young people, fostering creativity, and building a more inclusive society. By continuing to support and expand these initiatives, we can unlock the potential of the arts in youth work to create positive, lasting change for young people across the UK. This investment is not only in their future but in the future of our society as a whole.
Kerry O'Brien
CEO, Young Urban Arts Foundation
www.yuaf.org
