London Youth Zones Raise Over £650,000 for Young People in the Capital

London, UK – Supporters of four OnSide Youth Zones in London successfully completed a remarkable cycling challenge on Sunday, 2nd March, raising an impressive £651,787 to support thousands of young people across the capital. The four Youth Zones – Legacy Youth Zone in Croydon, Unitas Youth Zone in Barnet, WEST Youth Zone in Hammersmith & Fulham, and Future Youth Zone in Barking & Dagenham – provide life-changing opportunities for young people in safe and inspiring environments.

Participants embarked on an inspiring 67-mile journey between all four Youth Zones, cycling across London. Their efforts, alongside those of Youth Zone members who cycled the same distance in their clubs’ state-of-the-art gyms, have made a tremendous impact in securing vital funding for young Londoners.

Youth Zones play a crucial role in providing opportunities for thousands of young people in London. These spaces offer access to sports, arts, cooking, mental health support, and mentoring for just 50p per visit, empowering young people to build confidence, develop new skills, and form meaningful friendships.

Since 2019, London’s OnSide Youth Zones have supported over 32,000 young people. However, continued support is essential to keep these services running. With 30% of London’s youth clubs closing between 2010 and 2019 due to cuts in local authority funding, the role of Youth Zones has never been more important.

Chris, a senior Legacy Youth Zone member, shared his experience, saying, “Before coming to Legacy (Youth Zone), I was very shy and even talking to people or doing work with them at school and in class was something I found hard. I always felt scared of talking, and even though my social anxiety is something I still feel, it is a lot less now. My parents are proud of me for coming to Legacy, and they feel as if I can finally socialise more and stop avoiding talking to other people.”

Myke Catterall, CEO of Legacy Youth Zone, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support, saying, “Raising £651,787 is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our supporters. Every donation makes a significant impact, ensuring we can continue providing young people with opportunities to thrive.”

The success of the London Without Limits Crowdfunder and Cyclathon would not have been possible without the dedication of over 1500 donors, 213 campaign champions, and the entire London Youth Zone community. Businesses such as Modulr played a crucial role by matching donations and encouraging their teams to contribute.

Although the event is over, the need for support continues. Donations remain open, and those who wish to contribute can visit https://www.charityextra.com/londonwithoutlimits to help sustain the vital work of London’s Youth Zones.