Young people need youth clubs. A needs analysis in a London borough

In this article, Naomi Thompson and David Woodger outline the findings and implications of a needs analysis relating to young people, conducted with 426 stakeholders (young people, parents and professionals) in a London borough in 2018. The findings support a case for open access youth work and some targeted support, with ‘crime and safety’ and ‘mental health and wellbeing’ identified as the most pressing needs young people are facing. Despite mental health being identified as a prevalent need, respondents did not overwhelmingly identify individual counselling as a key form of service needed. Youth clubs were identified as the most needed service, followed by targeted support around crime. This suggests that universal youth work and other group activity is seen as the most appropriate response to young people’s needs.