Investing in young people

Islington has the least green space per person of any London borough. There is not enough that young people can afford to do, especially at the weekends. This can lead to frustration and problems for everyone.

Islington Giving’s programme will open adventure playgrounds, clubs and new venues at weekends, including evenings, for music, sport, cooking and art. Every year more than 1,600 young people aged six to 20 will design and develop new exciting, structured activities ranging from midnight football to music events.

The facts:

• 45% of children in Islington live in households where nobody is employed
• 45% of young people live in poverty, the second highest rate in London
• 20% of children are living in a one-parent household
• 14% of young people are not in education, employment or training.

Through Investing in Young People, Islington Giving will support young people aged between six and 20 through two innovative programmes of weekend events and activities.

Adventure playgrounds

Islington has excellent adventure playgrounds that are underused at the weekends. Working with Islington Play Association, and supported by volunteers, Islington Giving will open more of our playgrounds every Saturday and Sunday for eight hours a day. Young people will have the chance to take part in supervised, free activities like running mini-nature reserves, cooking and camping overnight.

You can read more about our opening of Lumpy Hill Adventure Playground at weekends here

Weekend events

Islington Giving will work with young people to design and develop a programme of weekend events that provides a powerful alternative to drugs and alcohol.  The programme will provide new opportunities for thousands of young people and enable them to develop invaluable skills and an understanding of risk and enterprise.  It will benefit the entire community by reducing the risk of anti-social behaviour.

Planned activities include a battle of the bands, a fashion extravaganza, midnight sports, ‘pop-up’ restaurants and clubs, stunt school, sports, drama and theatre.

Our first project The Saturday Night Project took over Sobell Leisure centre from 7-11pm for young people. The first event took place on 25th June 2011 and the next will take place in September.

We will invest a total of £1 million over five years in young people.

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