Third Space: “My youth club means a lot to me, as it is a place of freedom and escapism.” – Anne, Unitas Youth Zone
06 November 2025
Personal Portraits of London’s Youth Clubs Through the Eyes of Young People
This Youth Work Week, we’re sharing perspectives on youth work. At a time when youth services across London face mounting funding pressures, the need for high-quality youth work has never been greater. Third Space presents a powerful and deeply personal photographic project created by three young people from three London Youth member clubs.
Over the course of a month, each photographer documented what their youth club means to them – capturing moments, spaces and stories that reflect the vital role these clubs play in their lives, and in the lives of the young people who choose to go there.
Guided and supported by documentary photographer Polly Braden, the young artists have produced honest and moving visual narratives that highlight the importance of safe, creative and supportive spaces for young people today.
“So brilliant to meet Iman, Demoy and Anne, and think about how they might approach photographing their youth clubs. I was impressed by the photographs they made in so few sessions, and what shone through was the empathy and understanding towards their contemporaries. The photos are full of joy and energy.” – Polly Braden
Third Space is more than just a photography project; it’s a visual reminder of the transformative power of youth work and the importance of continuing to invest in the next generation.
We invite you to explore the inspiring collection of images from each young photographer, a window into their world, their communities, and the powerful impact youth work continues to have on their lives and futures.
Anne, Unitas Youth Zone
Unitas Youth Zone is an independent charity, with a purpose-built facility, located on Montrose Playing Fields in Burnt Oak, providing a safe and inspiring place for Barnet’s and North London’s young people.
I have been coming to Unitas since it opened in 2019 (I’m an og member). I was 12 at that time. What I enjoy about Unitas the most is how every session brings a new, different and fun activity.
My youth club means a lot to me, as it is a place of freedom and escapism. Whether I spend that evening going to the gym, doing karaoke in the music room, rock climbing, editing in the media room or doing another arty surprise in the art room like resin making or pottery, it gives me a chance to laugh, have fun and forget about my stress and struggles. Both the youth zone and staff have given me support as well as confidence, helping build my self-esteem and confidence to re-pursue hobbies I once loved but felt judged to pursue (e.g. singing, dancing, drawing, going to the gym, etc.).
In my photos, I aimed to capture the importance of Unitas to the kids, and the different activities and opportunities it has to offer, as well as the escapism, confidence and joy it builds in young people. I wanted to capture how no matter the day you have, bad or good, Unitas has wonderful support, whether it be staff or friends or just a simple distraction. I aimed to represent this all by using a variety of people and activity places.
The main story I also wished to tell was of my friend. It was important to me that I expressed both my own relatability as well as her own personal story to highlight the immense positive impact youth zones like Unitas have on young people, offering both mental and physical opportunities for development and growth.
Youth work is important to young Londoners as it gives a place of belonging for kids to go to, like a second family, which is not at home or at school. It gives children a chance to develop and work on themselves in terms of character, personality and even career, and allows them to make friends and express themselves freely, without judgement, something which they may struggle to do in school, especially if in a deprived area.
Unitas is that place for them to be themselves, whether it be happy or upset, good or bad. The youth zone, as well as the staff in it, give children the essential support they need to grow and feel less alone.
It’s not just an opportunity to escape the world, but also an opportunity to learn how to thrive in the world.
My friend immersed in her own world of singing and expression. Unitas gives her a place of escapism as well as freedom to enjoy and pursue her hobbies (singing, dancing, talking), and passions in her heart without judgement.
“Unitas is an important space to me, and my life would be less enjoyable and more difficult without it.”
“I come to Unitas to see friends and make new friends, be included, have fun or a distraction from school, as well as to feel cared for.”
“If Unitas shut, I’d lose the support they give me; I’d be bored and lonely and have no one to go out with, nowhere to go out.”
The symbolism of bathroom doors was used here to represent a range of raw, vulnerable emotions a child may experience (whether good or bad) and how typically they’d lock themselves in either their bedrooms or bathrooms to cry, be alone, and hide their struggle from others (friends, family, school, etc). But Unitas is that place for them to be themselves, whether it be happy or upset, good or bad, the youth zone as well as the staff in it give children the essential support they need to grow and feel less alone.
“Unitas has helped me grow and thrive. I have an official Personal Trainer qualification, which Unitas has helped me achieve.”
“I come here alone, by myself, for myself – self maintenance.”
Two friends making resin key chains/necklaces for the Unitas fundraiser dinner.
Sharing a special bond with friends whilst being creative and themselves without judgement.
Thank you to our photographers Anne, Demoy and Iman, to the staff at our member organisations Coin Street, Project Zero, and Unitas Youth Zone, and to photographer Polly Braden, for participating in the project.
