Sadiq Khan Expands Gaming Access Across London Youth Lates Clubs

Young people attending Youth Lates clubs across London will soon have greater access to gaming equipment after Mayor Sadiq Khan announced new funding for consoles, PCs, televisions and upgraded Wi-Fi connections as part of his £30 million youth investment programme.

The move forms part of the Mayor’s commitment to deliver a late-night youth club in every one of London’s 32 boroughs. Through the expanded Youth Lates programme, clubs will receive additional support to help engage young people during evenings and weekends while providing opportunities for mentoring, skills development and social activities.

Gaming remains one of the most popular pastimes among young people, and City Hall believes improved access to technology can help youth organisations connect with those who may not otherwise engage with traditional youth services.

The announcement follows wider investment in youth programmes delivered through London’s Violence Reduction Unit and other community initiatives. According to City Hall, the number of young people admitted to hospital following knife assaults has fallen by half over the past seven years alongside increased spending on mentoring and positive opportunities for young Londoners.

Khan unveiled the latest expansion while visiting Tokyo on a trade mission designed to strengthen economic and cultural ties between London and Asia. During the visit, he met game developers and industry leaders and helped launch the J-StarX Indie Game Growth Accelerator Programme.

Funded by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and delivered by Games London, the initiative will support eight Japanese game studios and start-ups looking to expand into the UK and European markets. The programme aims to create new business connections between London and Japan while bringing emerging developers into one of the world’s largest gaming sectors.

The selected studios will showcase their work at next year’s London Games Festival, which has grown into the UK’s largest video games event since its relaunch in 2016 and attracts more than 100,000 visitors from over 60 countries each year.

London is currently the largest hub for video game businesses in Europe and the third-largest globally for games makers, behind only Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Mayor says the combination of youth investment and international gaming partnerships can help create new opportunities for young Londoners while supporting one of the capital’s most significant creative sectors.

What role should youth clubs play in helping young people develop digital skills, creativity and future career opportunities? Read more London education, youth and community news on EyeOnLondon.

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