West Youth Zone

On Side Youth Zones

Research shows cuts to youth clubs affect teen crime and education

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WEST Youth Zone’s impact on communities in Hammersmith & Fulham has been validated by groundbreaking research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) by Carmen Villa. The study reveals the far-reaching consequences of youth club closures across London, underlining the critical need for spaces like WEST Youth Zone and others across the OnSide network in preventing crime and fostering educational success.

According to the IFS, closures of youth clubs during the 2010s have led to stark increases in teen crime and declines in academic performance. Young people deprived of safe spaces like WEST were 14% more likely to engage in criminal activity and saw their GCSE scores fall significantly, with students from disadvantaged backgrounds particularly affected. These outcomes highlight youth clubs as not just recreational hubs but vital support systems that provide mentorship, educational resources, and a structured environment.

Elanor Gunn, CEO of WEST, emphasises, “This research confirms the positive outcomes of our Youth Zone that we see every day at WEST. We offer more than activities, we provide stability and guidance that can shape local young people’s futures.”

WEST Youth Zone, in just 6 months of opening, has served over 2,400 young people, offering more than 20 activities each session, from sports to creative arts, with a focus on inclusivity and personal growth. As local councils face ongoing financial pressures, this research underscores the long-term societal and economic costs of cutting youth services. For every youth club that closes, the community not only loses a safe haven for its youth but faces increased burdens on the criminal justice system and reduced future earnings for affected individuals.

By supporting in WEST, we safeguard our young people’s potential and ensure a brighter, safer future for Hammersmith & Fulham and wider West London. This research makes it clear: Youth Zones like WEST aren’t optional—they’re essential.

For further details, read the IFS research and supporting commentary: IFS Report

If you would like more information on how you can can support WEST, contact: enquiries@westyouthzone.org

WEST Youth Zone Celebrates Success with Founder Supporter Dinner

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On Thursday 26th September, WEST Youth Zone hosted a Founder Supporter Dinner, a remarkable evening celebrating the dedication of our supporters, staff and volunteers to empower young people in the local community. Held alongside a 90s Disco for senior members, the event brought together funders, supporters, and talented youth, making it an evening to remember.

roller skating 90s disco west youth zone

The night kicked off with an energetic 90s-themed party for the Youth Zone members, who roller-skated and partied the evening away while guests of WEST gathered for a more intimate event. Hosted by Harry Wills, Junior and Holiday Club Manager, and PJ, a rising WEST star and Junior Member, the dinner featured performances from some of the many talented young members.

First off, Macy sang a beautiful rendition of Valerie by Amy Winehouse followed by creative photography slideshow from junior members Julia, Reah & Ruby. Ashley, who first visited WEST a few weeks ago, played guitar and sang an emotional song. Aneela and Jude were up next, they sang Diamonds by Rhianna which was one of their first ever performances on a stage. Ziyanda rocked us out with a drum solo which he learnt in the Music Room. These impressive displays of talent reflected the hard work and commitment that our youth workers invests in nurturing the skills of local young people. It’s safe to say, our guests were impressed!

“It was so inspiring to see the Youth Zone in full flow and buzzing with all that energy amongst the members, volunteers and team. The talent showcased by the young people was extraordinary and a real testament to everyone involved in drawing out all that gold.” – Supporter of WEST.

Everyone was treated to a delicious meal courtesy of the BiteCity catering team, whose dishes made the night even more special. The Founder Supporter Dinner was more than just a show; it was also a heartfelt appreciation for the funders and supporters who make the work here possible. Their contributions and ongoing support allow us to continue our mission of providing a safe, inclusive, and empowering space for young people. To celebrate, we asked funders to collect their award plaques and shake hands with two impressive young leaders Emaan & Charice.

The WEST Value Awards were highlight of the evening, celebrating individuals who embody our core values. Tayshaurn, a senior member, won the Ambition award for embracing new challenges and driving success. Maael, also a senior member, was honoured with the Excellence award for consistently striving to improve and solve problems. Junior member, Anjali, received the Respect award for her integrity and care for others. Volunteer Aris earned the Collaboration award for fostering partnerships, while youth worker Alex was recognised with the Young People First award, exemplifying the focus on youth at the heart of WEST’s mission.

The evening ended with a showcase of Young Leaders sharing their favourite things about WEST with Macy’s beautiful singing as a backing track.

A HUGE thanks to all who made the evening such a success. The continued engagement of the founders and supporters will undoubtedly fuel the future success of WEST Youth Zone, enabling more young people to thrive and reach their full potential. Here’s to many more evenings of celebration!

To find out more about becoming a WEST Patron, look here: https://westyouthzone.org/support-us/

Celebrating Excellence: WEST Employees Shine at H&F Council Civic Honours Awards!

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Last week, we had the pleasure of celebrating our incredible team members, Shineade, Nuro, Rama, and Zara, for their outstanding achievements at the H&F Council Civic Honours Awards! It was great to see the recognition they deserved for their impact within the White City community and WEST Youth Zone.

Shineade Burton, our Volunteer Coordinator and Just for Girls Session Lead, was celebrated for her exceptional individual contributions towards building a stronger, safer, and kinder community. Her impactful work, both at local school Ark Swift Primary Academy and within WEST Youth Zone, has left an indelible mark on the lives of young people, their parents and fellow colleagues. Shineade’s commitment to empowering our youth throughout her career is truly inspiring.

Meanwhile, Nuro, Rama, and Zara were acknowledged as Parent & Carer Champions, a testament to their unwavering dedication and support for their families and the Hammersmith and Fulham community. Their efforts match up greatly with our mission here at WEST Youth Zone, where we strive to empower young people.

These outstanding individuals serve as role models for our young members and colleagues at WEST. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make in our organisation and beyond.

To Shineade, Nuro, Rama, and Zara: your contributions are invaluable, and we are immensely grateful for all that you do. Congratulations once again on this well-deserved recognition! Let’s continue to inspire young people together.

Read about the Council’s event here.

Interested in being part of the WEST Team? Check out our vacancies here.

The Prince of Wales will visit WEST Youth Zone

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On Thursday 14th March, The Prince of Wales will visit WEST Youth Zone to see our brand-new purpose-built facilities that will soon be available to young people in West London.

WEST are excited to welcome His Royal Highness to mark the first time young people will have access to the Youth Zone.

Please view announcement from Kensington Palace below:

Learn Why WEST Youth Zone Loves International Women’s Day!

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WEST Youth Zone supports International Women’s Day as it is our aim to make the youth zone accessible for all young people in the local community no matter how they identify.

What is International Women’s Day?

Today, 8th March 2024, marks this year’s International Women’s Day. The focal point of the movement is to support women’s rights and highlight issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and abuse towards women. 

This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion. International Women’s Day wants to imagine a world with gender equality; a world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. This day brings people together to collectively highlight these women focused topics and #InspireInclusion. 

Why does WEST Youth Zone support International Women’s Day?

WEST Youth Zone supports International Women’s Day as it is our aim to make the youth zone accessible for all young people in the local community no matter their gender, race, faith, identity, ability, and how they identify. We embody our name “WEST – Where Everybody Sticks Together”. Therefore, always enabling IWD’s focal point of gender equality. 

What will WEST offer to support girls inside the Youth Zone?

Once open, WEST will offer a “Just for Girls” session each Sunday. The weekly sessions will allow members that identify as female to have exclusivity of the building. The sessions will be led by what our young girls want to do. Here at WEST, we will listen to what activities are needed to create invaluable and rewarding girls only sessions. 

In Hammersmith and Fulham, there are a wide variety of races and faiths. According to the 2021 Censes, the West London postcode area have 40.8% of people identifying as non-white compared to 18.3% in the whole of England & Wales (see Plumplot). It is important our Youth Zone supports women no matter their race, faith, and wider identity to ensure belonging and inspire inclusion within the local community. 

No matter how you identify, WEST will provide young people with “Somewhere to go, Something to do, and Someone to talk to”.

Our Just for Girls sessions aim to enable female empowerment away from the potentially uncomfortable mixed gender club sessions. Some examples are: 

  • Just for Girls Gym Classes to improve strength and confidence.
  • The discussion of female topics in our Health and Wellbeing room such as women’s sexual health and social media pressures for girls.
  • Female self defence classes in our Boxing Gym.  
  • Arts and Crafts activities to enable creativity and release emotions.
  • A variety of sports lead by women Youth Workers such as Netball, Tennis, Football, and Hockey.
  • Just for Girl cooking sessions in our Teaching Kitchen to support Women’s Health. 
  • Girls only music sessions will embrace their race, faith, ability, and how they identify. 
  • and much more!

View our TikTok to take a look inside WEST

Sign Up Today!

If you are interested in being a member at WEST to access to our Just for Girls sessions, sign up today here: Become a Member!

Do you think you can add more to our Just for Girls sessions? You can volunteer at WEST Youth Zone by filling out this form: Become a Volunteer!

WEST Supports Children’s Mental Health Week

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Here at WEST Youth Zone, ensuring the safety of young people and creating an environment where they can be supported and where they can express themselves is top priority. That’s why we support Children’s Mental Health Week! 

What is Children’s Mental Health Week? 

Children’s Mental Health Week, taking place on the 5th – 11th of February 2024, is an awareness campaign week created by children’s mental health charity, Place2Be. The charity provides vital services including counselling, mental health support and training in UK schools. They launched the week-long initiative in 2015 to empower, equip and give a voice to every child in the UK.  

This year’s theme is ‘My Voice Matters’ which is all about empowering children and young people by providing them with the tools they need to express themselves. Allowing children to have their voices heard can make a difference by making them have a greater sense of community and heightened self-esteem, something WEST Youth Zone wants to encourage year-round.  

Why WEST Youth Zone Supports Place2Be’s Awareness Week 

WEST is taking part in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week because we prioritise the wellbeing of young individuals. We have a commitment to create a safe and nurturing space for our members where they can openly express themselves and share experiences with Youth Workers and other young people. 

OnSide’s recent research report, Generation Isolation, found that 50% of young people reported high or very high feelings of anxiety and 46% of young people having anxiety around their future. 

By endorsing Children’s Mental Health Week, we aim to raise awareness and promote discussion around the topic of mental health of our youth. Alongside this, promoting that our Youth Zone is space where children can talk about their worries and therefore helping improve anxiety and general mental health. 

WEST’s Inclusion Coordinator, Harry Wills, says: 

“Kid’s voices matter because their opinions are valid and deserve respect. As my role as a youth worker, I want to facilitate them to express themselves, encouraging them to pursue their goals. At WEST, we want to provide familiar and welcoming spaces where young people feel comfortable and have approachable staff with friendly faces and open ears, therefore helping to ease any anxieties they may have” 

How to Get Involved 

Visit Place2Be’s website to find out more about the awareness week. You will be able to download resources there to share with your children, students, or friends. Together, we can help give a voice to all young people in the UK! 

Do you want to make a difference to children’s mental health in West London? Find out more about volunteering at WEST Youth Zone here: Get Involved – Volunteer. We also have vacancies here: Get Involved – Vacancies 

To support WEST in our first year of opening, you can donate here: Support Us 

WE NEED YOU! Volunteering Will Make a Huge Difference in West London

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Are you eager to meet new people? Do you want to acquire new skills? Do you want to have some fun? Most importantly, do you want to make huge impact in the West London Community? Volunteer with WEST Youth Zone today!

WEST Youth Zone, based in Hammersmith & Fulham, is looking for committed and friendly volunteers to help deliver a world-class service to West London’s young people. Our volunteers will be from a range of backgrounds and possess varied skills. No experience is needed to make a difference in your local community.

We are recruiting volunteers in the following areas:

  • Youth Worker
  • Holiday Club Youth Worker
  • Football Coaching Volunteer
  • Arts & Crafts Volunteer
  • Climbing Coach Volunteer
  • Enterprise and Entrepreneur Volunteer
  • Kitchen Volunteer
  • Cooking Teacher Volunteer
  • Music Teacher Volunteer
  • Media Volunteer
  • Performing Arts Volunteer
  • Sports and Gym Coach/Trainer Volunteer
  • Health and Wellbeing Volunteer
  • Boxing Instructor Volunteer
  • and more!

Why Volunteer?

One of the main reasons to volunteer with WEST is to be able to contribute to the vibrant community based in White City and help young people realise their potential. However, it’s not just about what you can do for others. Here’s what it can do for you:

  • Volunteering can give your CV a boost
    • According to Reed Employment, 73% of the UK’s leading businesses said they would employ someone who’s volunteered over someone who hasn’t.
  • You can meet new people
    • At a Youth Zone, you will meet people from different cultures and backgrounds that you may not normally be around. It is a great way the expand your cultural knowledge and meet like-minded people.
  • It can improve your confidence
    • Whilst is WEST, you will get the chance to do things you might not normally do – this can be a real confidence boost!

Volunteering at WEST Youth Zone

If you’re unsure whether volunteering is the right fit for you, join us for our Volunteer Drop-In Sessions held throughout January 2024. Come and explore the exciting opportunities that WEST has to offer and meet our friendly Youth Worker team.

Event Details:

  • Dates: Tuesday 23rd January and Friday 26th January 2024
  • Time: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm – drop in at any time!
  • Location: WEST Youth Zone, South Africa Road, London, W12 7TF

On session, a free hot meal will be provided, and travel expenses can be reimbursed. Join us, and together, we can contribute to the vibrant community in West London!

Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Shineade Burton, Shineade.Burton@westyouthzone.org or visit our Volunteering Page if you have any questions.

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