Youth clubs once formed a vital layer of Britain’s social infrastructure. They offered teenagers something increasingly rare today: a non-transactional place to gather freely, build confidence, test independence and nurture bonds that exist beyond home or school.

Over the past 20+ years, that infrastructure has steadily disappeared. Deep cuts to youth service funding have led to the closure of hundreds of centres across the UK, removing spaces that once helped young people develop social skills, resilience and a sense of belonging. In their absence, youth workers and sociologists point to rising isolation, mental health pressures and fewer informal support networks during some of the most formative years of life.

In 2026, there are signs of genuine renewal, with the UK government’s emerging Youth Matters Strategy. Event 012 explores how attention is finally returning to the spaces young people need. We’ll gather a panel of experts in the field to examine the topic with architect John Puttick, whose youth centres reimagine these buildings as welcoming civic spaces designed to promote self-esteem, creativity and community.

Panel

Leanne Cloudsdale • Host | Concrete Communities
John Puttick • Director | John Puttick Associates
Emma Warren • Journalist & Author
Nic Quinn + Colin Davies • Co-founders | Sum.Place
Dr Otto Saumarez Smith • Historian | University of Warwick
Pauline Daniyan • CEO | London Youth