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Youth social action has come a long way in the past decade. Once seen as something young people did in their spare time, a volunteering role here, a fundraiser there – it’s now an urgent, values-driven response to the world around them. From campaigning on climate to speaking out about mental health or racial injustice, young people are using their voices in powerful, strategic ways.
But the systems that support youth social action haven’t always kept up. After years of funding cuts, siloed working, and growing demand on youth services, the need for creative, joined-up thinking has never been greater.
At Beatfreeks, we’ve seen what happens when people in youth spaces are given time and space to reflect, connect, and share their knowledge. And we know that to unlock the full potential of youth social action, we have to invest in the people making it happen behind the scenes.
That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with Sovereign Network Group to facilitate the SNG Youth Social Action Network. A space for professionals in the sector to come together, reflect on their practice, and co-create what’s next.
Youth Social Action Has Changed - And That’s Not a Bad Thing
A decade ago, youth social action often looked like a school-organised fundraiser or a volunteer shift at a local charity. While important, these opportunities were typically structured, adult-led, and limited in accessibility. If you weren’t already ‘in the system’ – part of a youth council, or linked into a well-funded programme – chances are, you weren’t going to be super involved.
Today, things look different. Social action has widened its scope and changed shape entirely. Young people are creating change in their communities through mutual aid, activism, online organising, peer support, creative projects, and more. Social media has become both a platform and a power tool. And some are just building their own spaces instead.
This shift hasn’t happened in a vacuum. It reflects deeper realities facing Gen Z and younger Millennials.
- As of October to December 2024, the youth unemployment rate for individuals aged 16 to 24 was 14.5%, a slight decrease from 14.7% in the previous quarter. (Source: ONS)
- A study by the Sutton Trust found that over half (54%) of university students participated in societies or sports in autumn 2019. This participation fell to 36% in autumn 2020 and further declined to 30% in February 2021, indicating a significant drop in extracurricular involvement during the pandemic. (Source: Sutton Trust)
- And yet, 3 in 4 young people still want to be involved in creating social change – even when the systems around them don’t make it easy. (Source: GOV.UK)
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Even so, 47% of young people had taken part in some kind of social action in the last 12 months, according to the UK Government’s Youth Participation Pilot Survey (GOV.UK, 2024).
But that number comes with context: many young people face real constraints, especially when juggling precarious work, rising living costs, and pressure to build a career. The demand to secure employment can make it harder to engage in unpaid opportunities, even when the desire to contribute is high.
What we’re seeing is a generation that’s not disengaged but disillusioned with the way things have always been done. One that’s tired of being consulted, and ready to co-create. And that should give us energy, not fear.
The Challenges Are Still Real
Progress doesn’t mean the work is done.
While youth social action has evolved in powerful ways, the challenges facing both young people and the organisations that support them are deepening.
Funding for youth work has fallen by more than 60% in a decade, with local authority youth provision funding in England dropping from £1.06 billion in 2011 to just £408.5 million in 2021. In the same time, the number of youth clubs run by local authorities has nearly halved (UK Youth, 2024).
Rising costs have created new barriers to participation, especially for those from working-class backgrounds or rural areas, where opportunity doesn’t knock as often.
And it’s not just young people feeling the strain.
Professionals working in youth social action – from youth workers to programme leads – are being asked to do more with less. Less time. Less resources. Less certainty. The pressure to evidence outcomes, compete for shrinking pots of funding, and still show up meaningfully for young people can take its toll.
What’s more, collaboration (while often praised) is rarely prioritised in funding structures. Organisations are forced to compete instead of connect, making it harder to share learning or build joined-up solutions across regions and sectors.
The result of that is a passionate, skilled, and dedicated community of practitioners who are often working in silos, despite sharing the same values, goals, and frustrations.
That’s where networks like this come in – designed not just to connect, but to strengthen the ecosystem of youth social action. Initiatives like the #iwill Fund have played a vital role in sustaining this work, championing youth voice, funding grassroots innovation, and keeping social action alive even during challenging times.
Why Networks Matter
In a sector that too often runs on urgency, networks offer space. Space to slow down. To reflect on what’s working (and what isn’t). To swap ideas and challenges without competition getting in the way. To build relationships that fuel better outcomes for young people and not just better metrics for funders.
That’s why the SNG Youth Social Action Network exists. Set up by Sovereign Network Group and aligned with the #iwill Movement, this network brings together professionals who are working at the heart of youth social action, whether that’s in housing, education, mental health, community spaces, or something else entirely.
At Beatfreeks, we believe the most powerful solutions are collective ones. Those working in youth social action carry a huge amount – often with little time to pause and reconnect with others doing similar work.
Looking Ahead - What We’re Hoping to Build Together
We know that the future of youth social action can’t be built by one organisation or collective alone. It’s going to take trust, time, and a willingness to work together across boundaries, especially when the sector is under pressure.
We’re not here to prescribe a blueprint. We’re here to hold a space that allows the brilliance of others to shine: to spark the conversations, connections, and small shifts that lead to bigger change.
Across the UK, we’re already seeing inspiring models emerge:
- The Young Trustees Movement is challenging traditional power structures by supporting under-30s to take on leadership roles in charities, bringing fresh perspective and accountability into decision-making.
- RECLAIM is backing working-class young people to shape the political and social decisions that affect their lives, proving that lived experience is a strength.
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These efforts show what’s possible when young people are trusted, supported, and given room to lead. This network is about sharing and learning from that kind of work – and making sure it spreads.
That might look like peer learning. It might look like shared frustration. It might look like a single idea that grows into a new partnership.
In a climate where collaboration often feels like a luxury, this network is a reminder that it’s actually the foundation.
As our founder Anisa Morridadi puts it:
Young people are leading change in communities across the UK - we’re here to make sure they have the backing to do it boldly. The SNG Youth Social Action Network is a vibrant network of changemakers and we're excited to be a part of connecting the organisations that champion youth action: creating space to share what works, spark new ideas, and push for real impact.
We’re proud to be joining Sovereign Network Group in this work, shaping the future with the people already doing the heavy lifting.
If you’re part of the network, we hope you’ll bring your whole self to it. The wins, the questions, the experiments, and the moments that didn’t quite land. Because that’s how we grow stronger.
To everyone already part of the SNG Youth Social Action Network: thank you. Your insight, energy, and experience are what will make this space meaningful.
To Sovereign Network Group and the #iwill Movement: we’re proud to stand alongside you in backing youth social action from the inside out.
To anyone working in youth social action who wants to find out more about the network and how to join, get the deets and sign up here – SNG #iwill Youth Network | Sovereign Housing