Mayor Sadiq Khan unveils £30m Youth Lates programme for safe spaces in London boroughs
The initiative aims to revive youth clubs, support young Londoners, and tackle crime's root causes
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a landmark £30 million investment into a new Youth Lates programme intended to restore youth clubs across London's 32 boroughs.
The initiative, aimed at remedying years of austerity, will establish high-quality late-night youth clubs offering activities, support, and mentorship under one roof.
Billed as the "biggest-ever investment in youth clubs by a Mayor", the programme seeks to provide young Londoners with safe environments while addressing the underlying causes of crime.
These clubs will offer activities such as music production, gaming, sport, and creative opportunities, alongside mental health support, life skills, and education guidance.
With the introduction of Youth Lates, Khan continues to build upon the success of London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), complemented by schemes like the Holiday Hope and My Ends Programmes.
The ambitious project follows a substantial hollowing out of youth services due to austerity, with £39 million in cuts that led to the closure of 81 centres and the loss of 800 youth workers in London.
Sadiq Khan underlined his commitment to working both on crime itself and its causes, with the Youth Lates programme forming the latest step in a wide-ranging effort to keep young people safe.
The Mayor's earlier investments in the VRU have delivered over 550,000 targeted interventions, preventing young people from joining gangs.
Now, these new youth clubs aim to offer young Londoners positive opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
Khan's £30 million youth programme is part of £50 million earmarked for supporting young people this year.
This effort is supported by a record-breaking £1.26 billion investment into policing and crime prevention in 2023 – double the budget of the previous Mayor.
While London has seen progress with a decrease in homicides and violence, the Mayor acknowledges more work is required to ensure the sense of safety is restored in every community.
Mayor Sadiq Khan stated that every young Londoner deserves the chance to thrive and that prevention is crucial in building safer communities.
The Youth Lates initiative reflects this approach, seeking to provide opportunities, enrichment, and trusted adult support to young people throughout the capital.