Young people seeking development support in West Midlands soars - report

Demand for youth development support in the West Midlands continues to soar, with local charity Sport 4 Life UK helping a record 3,875 young people in the year to July 2025, according to its latest Impact Report.

The figure, which represents a 12 percent rise compared to the previous 12-month period, was unveiled at the charity's recent 2024/25 Impact Report launch event hosted by Birmingham influencer PJ Ellis at Mills & Reeve solicitors in One Centenary Way.

A key part of the launch was an expert panel discussion featuring Patricia White MBE, Intercity Technology CEO Charlie Blakemore, Sport 4 Life UK trustee Alton Brown, Nicola Turner, CEO of United by 2022, and Tony Elvin, general manager at Touchwood Solihull.

During the session, Tony warned that “pathways to work weren’t always clear” and the “perception of university or bust” was making many young people feel inadequate.

However, he said there were opportunities waiting to be unlocked in sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction and security - offering a solution to those who had been left behind.

Attended by scores of business leaders and partner organisations, the event also heard how Sport 4 Life UK had delivered 3,700 hours in sport, mentoring and training during 2024/25. This resulted in 1,993 young people experiencing an improvement in their employability skills and 1,097 exhibiting positive changes in behaviours associated with crime.

Of the 557 classed as being not in education, employment or training (NEET) a total of 301 young people progressed into study or work, thanks to Sport 4 Life UK’s support. Fifty-seven percent of those helped were male and 43 percent were female.

CEO and founder of Sport 4 Life UK Tom Clarke-Forrest said: “The number of young people who are either struggling after formal education or to find their place in the world of employment is increasing.

“Challenges such as the arrival of AI and the ongoing cost of living crisis are causing many of our young people to feel hopeless about the future. It’s vital then that the government, business and the third sector come together to ensure no one is left behind.

“We will continue to expand our services and build partnerships to find new ways to open up opportunities and give the next generation the confidence to thrive in a changing world.”

Alongside statistics showing how many people Sport 4 Life UK helped in 2024/25, the Impact Report featured the findings of research into the issues most concerning to those aged 11 to 29.

At 54 per cent, more than half of respondents feared that AI would reduce job opportunities, while 50 percent were worried about future employment prospects, and 76 percent had been affected by the rising cost of food. 

Since 2021, there has been a 50 percent increase across the UK in young people deemed NEET, while the youth unemployment remains 2.5 times higher than the national average. More than 100,000 young people are out of work due to mental illness.

To read Sport 4 Life UK’s Impact Report 2025, please visit the website here.

Pictured: From left- Charlie Blakemore, Alton Brown, Nicola Turner, Tony Elvin, Patricia White MBE and PJ Ellis