The youth clubs fighting to stay relevant in the social media age

The youth clubs fighting to stay relevant in the social media age In Southwark’s Faraday ward—described by organiser Sayce as the borough’s most underserved area—one in five young people experiences mental‑health challenges, high exclusion rates persist, and roughly 3 % are not in education, employment or training. Sayce and his team spent eight years establishing Mentivity, a youth provision that now works with more than 200 teenagers on its register. The service operates every weekday and is set to open its doors on weekends as well. Funding comes from a blend of private‑sector partners and the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit, which secured Home Office money aimed at reducing crime. Although Mentivity enjoys a relatively stable financial footing compared with many other youth groups, it lost about half a million pounds in support last year. Sayce attributes the cut to a growing backlash against diversity and equality initiatives. “We have to recreate the village, we have to recreate communities,” Sayce insists, arguing that youth spaces are essential for social cohesion. He warns that when services are withdrawn, “there’s a real chiselled deficiency of spot for adults. They take that mistrust, that anger and that frustration back into society.” He adds, “When you’re feeling let down as a young person and you’re heartbroken that this youth club is not there, you’re willing to go into other areas just to try and make up for that void.” Sayce dismisses debates over terminology. “They can call it what they want, but they are here,” he says. “They are voting with their feet, so we’re not precious about what it’s called—it’s about how they feel when they’re here.” *Top image credit: Getty Images*