Published: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Youth and play services in Kensington and Chelsea have been reimagined following extensive consultation with young people and residents to deliver a grants programme for local voluntary sector organisations in the borough.
How did we get here?
Recognising the ever-changing needs and priorities of residents, we spoke to over 350 young people and 200 adults to understand what kind of services they want to see in their local area. This was known as the Youth Review, and its outcome paved the way for a new suite of grants, totalling almost £5 million over five years, which local providers of youth and play services could bid on.
Youth Review findings shaped new criteria for the grants, ensuring that service providers we fund genuinely respond to the needs of our young people.
An additional £750,000 of match funding will be generated for the sector across the five years by our strategic youth partner Young K&C, who were instrumental in promoting the grants among potential providers.
Cllr Catherine Faulks, lead member for family and children’s services, said:
“Across London, we are the highest spending local authority per head on services for our young people. Through both our dedicated in-house services and this almost £5 million commitment across five years, we are investing in our young people’s futures and giving them the best possible start to life”.
“The key here is choice. We know that plenty of well-loved activities remain popular with young people, but in an ever-changing world, we must keep asking how we can keep our offer fresh and relevant. We listened, we acted, and we will continue striving to be the best borough for young people in London.”
Nicola Butler, CEO of Young K&C, said: "We're delighted to work with RBKC to support such a wide range of new opportunities for children and young people in the borough, including youth clubs, adventure playgrounds, sports and arts.
“Local young people have played a key role in deciding on the projects and activities that they want to see. We can't wait to see their decisions being put into action in Spring 2025."
What does it mean for me and my children?
This refresh of our funded youth and play services means that your children will have even more choice when looking for an activity, event or club to enjoy in their spare time. From 2025, new and exciting programmes will be introduced, while many well-loved activities will continue to receive funding, ensuring that young people can enjoy both fresh experiences and long-standing favourites.
The new services will see £4.7 million of Council funding delivered over the next five years, with 11 recipients so far announced and more to come. There will also be additional match funding of £750k from the Council’s strategic youth partner Young K&C to enhance delivery.
How do I browse the new offer?
The Our City website is your go-to for youth activities in and out of term time. In the coming months, you’ll see new providers populate the site with their offers. Our City allows you to search for activities and events by key-word, location and age range so that no time is wasted in finding your children’s next adventure.