Youth Spaces and Early Help in Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest Council has established a dynamic, youth-focused initiative under its Family Hubs programme, sitting within the Stronger Communities directorate in the council, which focuses on early prevention. 

The core aim is to provide young people (aged 11-25) with free, accessible spaces and activities that address not only crime prevention but also broader issues such as poverty, anti-social behaviour (ASB), and mental health. This initiative has evolved from a history of minimal youth provision to a robust, community-led model incorporating youth voice at every level.

Prior to 2023, Waltham Forest had no consistent provision for young people, which had been gradually reduced or become increasingly targeted until it ceased altogether. This gap left a pressing need for positive youth-led spaces.

In January 2023, the council launched pilot youth hubs in community settings to fill this void. These hubs were created with the involvement of young people from the outset, ensuring their voices directly shaped the services offered. The youth consultation provided clear feedback that young people wanted spaces to hang out, free access to activities, and access to food.

Two key pilot projects were launched:

• In the North of the Borough: A youth space in a church hall, reacting to incidents of ASB in the nearby library, which saw significant improvements after the opening of a youth club. Young people who had previously caused disruption in the library began to engage positively with the new youth services.
• In the South of the Borough: This area had existing, trusted providers who had strong relationships with young people. The council was able to access a building that was a former youth centre, owned by the parks and leisure team at the council. 

• Youth Involvement: Young people were engaged from the planning stage, ensuring services matched their needs and interests. This youth-led approach included them in the procurement process, with young people sitting on the selection panel for service providers.
• Community-Based Partnerships: Services were commissioned from local providers, including voluntary and community organisations, many of which are led by key community figures reflective of the ethnic makeup of the borough. 
• Innovative Approaches: Some providers operate mobile youth vans, engaging young people where they gather, and taking services directly into communities. These mobile units were particularly successful in offering outreach and engagement in areas with high incidents of anti-social behaviour
• Integration with Family Hubs: Some youth services were embedded in family hubs, building on successful pilots that catered to younger age groups. The service at family hubs for children aged 8-12 has been particularly popular, with waiting lists often exceeding capacity.
• Procurement and Funding: The council employed a competitive procurement process, resulting in the commissioning of nine successful youth service providers who were scored by a panel including young people. These providers collectively run 25 free youth space sessions weekly, ensuring widespread access across the borough. Services are funded primarily through internal budgets, with additional support from external funding sources such as the Million Hours programme (although this funding will end in 2026), public health grants, and community safety partnerships.
  • By integrating youth services with family hubs, libraries, and community spaces, the council has created a sustainable, youth-centred network that provides a safe space for young people and empowers them to shape their communities.

A core facet of the Youth Services & Engagement offer in Waltham Forest is through the Young Advisors. Waltham Forest has a Streetbase programme where young people who are part of the Young Advisors & Youth Independent Advisory Group go out to support young people on the street. This includes exploring opportunities to consult with young people, responding when there have been critical incidents, and targeting areas of anti-social behaviour. 

 Being able to see that when we speak to young people, the answers they give genuinely have an impact, for example youth hubs. There was barely any youth hubs going into 2021 but now there is an abundance.”

– Ciaran, Streetbase member, age 18 years.

Streetbase usually ‘patrol’ in groups of four, with someone who is over 18 always leading the team. Using young people to engage with young people in the street immediately breaks down barriers and provides the opportunity to signpost and engage in diversionary activities. 

We need more Streetbase members on the streets to make sure young people get home safely after school- that would make us feel safer.” 

– Group of young people aged 14-15 years engaged by Streetbase

Young people were also engaged closely with the council’s citizen assemblies where there were multiple opportunities for young people to be involved and be community advocates. 

Streetbase engages up to 3,000 young people annually, providing them with opportunities for development, signposting to services, and access to employment support. 

Challenges and Future Development: Despite the successes, the borough faces challenges around sustaining funding for youth services, particularly as the Million Hours programme comes to an end. 

• Continued collaboration with local partners, including housing and public health, to ensure funding sustainability.
• Continuation of street-based engagement to reach more young people in different areas (Streetbase, Mobile youth venues.)
• Focus on long-term funding strategies and building upon the success of the pilot initiatives to create a fully integrated youth service offer across the borough.

Jane Brueseke 

Senior Programme Manager Youth Services

Stronger Communities