Unitas Youth Zone is proud to announce a major new initiative to address one of the most pressing challenges facing young women today: declining participation, growing isolation and reduced confidence during adolescence.
Across the UK, teenage girls are stepping away from spaces that once helped them thrive. From around age 13, participation in youth activities drops sharply, confidence dips and social isolation increases. These trends are increasingly linked to poorer wellbeing and mental health.
In Barnet, the picture is particularly concerning. A recent youth report commissioned by Barnet Council found that young women locally face disproportionate risks of alcohol misuse, hospital admissions linked to self-harm and low self-esteem. The report also highlights a shortage of female-focused youth provision and safe spaces across the borough.
At Unitas, we see the same pattern. While girls make up 48% of Junior members aged 8–12, participation drops sharply to just 19% of Senior members aged 13–19 (up to 25 for young people with SEND). This is not a lack of interest. It is a signal.
Conversations with girls, parents and community partners highlight common barriers: male-dominated environments, safety concerns, parental permission and a lack of spaces designed specifically for girls. Many young women also say that friendships and a sense of belonging strongly influence whether they attend youth activities at all.
How Unitas is helping reverse this…
In response, Unitas is launching a comprehensive female engagement strategy to help girls stay connected, confident and supported throughout their teenage years. The strategy focuses on four priorities:
- Relevant girls-only spaces and activities
- Psychological and physical safety
- Parent and guardian advocacy
- Leadership and opportunity
At the heart of this work is Girls Zone, a new girls-only session launching every Saturday from 2:30–5:00pm. Co-designed with members, the programme will create a supportive space where young women feel safe, heard and confident together while building friendships, exploring new interests and developing leadership skills.
Transformational support from the J Isaacs Charitable Trust
This ambitious programme has been made possible thanks to a transformational grant of over £230,000 from the J Isaacs Charitable Trust, which is funding the full delivery of our female engagement initiative.
The Trustees of the J Isaacs Charitable Trust are delighted to be supporting this innovative project to transform the opportunities of young women in Barnet. We focus our support on improving health and well-being, building community and breaking cycles of disadvantage; Unitas is a partner that enables us to realise all 3 of these goals.
The J Isaacs Charitable Trust
The investment will allow Unitas to expand programming, strengthen youth worker capacity and deepen engagement with families and schools, ensuring girls in our community have the support and opportunities they need during adolescence.
Robin Moss, CEO of Unitas Youth Zone, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Isaacs Foundation for their belief in this work and their commitment to improving outcomes for young women in our community. Their support allows us to take a bold and intentional approach to female engagement and create spaces where girls feel safe, confident and empowered to thrive.”
Alongside this support, The Ireland Funds has provided a £5,000 grant to support ongoing girl-centred sports activities as part of the wider programme.
Together, this investment will help ensure more girls across North London stay connected, confident and supported during the years that matter most.
To find out how you or your organisation can support this incredible initiative – Get in touch with our Fundraising Team.