We’re working in partnership with local schools and youth organisations to launch Active Youth Zones, safe, inclusive spaces where young people can get active during evenings and weekends. These zones offer a diverse range of sports and physical-activities that appeal to different interests, ensuring that everyone from newcomers to seasoned players has a place to move, learn and belong.
Beyond just physical activity, the programme creates leadership pathways for young adults. Participants can train towards recognised qualifications, develop mentoring skills and step into young-leader roles — giving them ownership of their community space, and helping them build skills that reach far beyond the pitch.
In England, only 47.8% of children and young people are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guideline of 60 minutes of daily activity. Closer to home in Harlow, just 46.3% of children and young people were classed as physically active in 2021-22 — meaning more than half are not getting sufficient activity. Barriers such as cost, limited evening/weekend provision, and lack of safe, local spaces discourage many from being regularly active. In fact a local review found that in Harlow, 66.7% of respondents cited cost as a barrier to activity.
Active Youth Zones removes many of those barriers by delivering accessible sport and movement opportunities when and where young people want them — evenings and weekends, locally. We work with schools and youth organisations so the zones are integrated into community networks, helping young people feel welcome and supported.
Each zone actively builds leadership-pathways: young adults get trained and qualified to become leaders in the zone, creating role-models within their own communities. This means the programme doesn’t just support activity — it supports confidence, leadership, and sustainable community-led impact.
Every contribution supports free evening and weekend activities that give young people a safe space to play, connect, and grow. Together, we can make sure every child has access to sport, leadership, and opportunity.
