About Youth First

Youth First utilises the power of relationships with youth and play workers to provide young people with safe places to go, fun activities  and a range of support  to help them stay safe, enjoy their lives and grow to achieve their potential. Founded in 2016, Youth First spun out of Lewisham Council with the aim to find an independent future - to sustain and grow youth work in a climate that was otherwise burdened by continuing cuts and financial pressures. 

Youth First now provides youth work to thousands of young people a year, with many of those seen on a regular basis. Open access provision is delivered from five youth centres and five adventure playgrounds across the London Borough of Lewisham. This “open door” provision allows for early intervention and is further supported by a street-based team and a number of other projects funded by our generous partners. At present Youth First is constituted as a mutualised community benefit society registered with the FCA. In order to increase our sustainability we are looking to change to become a Charity during 2021.