London Mayor will spend £6 million to give young people ‘something to do’

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched a new £6-million programme dubbed Holiday Hope, which is aimed at providing young people in London with activities and opportunities over the holidays.

The programme is aimed at aiding those young people who are most disadvantaged, giving them ‘something to do, something to aspire to, and something to eat’.

Created as part of the Mayor’s pledge to provide 250,000 young people with activities and positive opportunities during this term, every activity funded through the programme will also come with free food.

Khan said the Holiday Hope programme for young people in London aims to provide them with the following:

• Something to do – Access to youth clubs and hubs, and positive activities, including sport, music production, performing arts, and dance.
• Something to aspire to – Opportunities, workshops, and sessions to help young people gain the skills and experience needed into jobs and apprenticeships.
• Something to eat – All activities delivered through Holiday Hope will include food either at activities or through take-home packs provided for children and their families.

“I’m determined to make London the greatest city in the world to grow up in and one where every young person has the support and opportunities that they need to be safe and to thrive,” Khan said.

“The school holidays should be a time to celebrate the best of our city and build experiences and friendships, but we also know it also is a time when young people are vulnerable to exploitation and violence.”

“Our Holiday Hope programme, backed up by £6m investment, will provide the helping hand and support that children and young people need, offering them something to do, something to aspire to and something to eat, as part of my commitment to build a fairer and safer London for everyone,” he said.

Activities delivered through Holiday Hope and others available across London can be found on the Local Village Network (LVN) signposting website and app, which offers more than 2,500 free services, activities, opportunities, and mentoring services for young people.

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