The IMPACT
Fund Participation
Provide grants or full subsidies for activities to remove the financial burden from families.
Strengthen Local Partnerships
Work with schools, youth centres, and local charities to offer low-barrier, community-based activities.
Raise Awareness
Run campaigns to highlight available support and the long-term benefits of extracurricular engagement.
On-going Evaluation
Track outcomes related to well-being, skills development, and participation to refine and improve programme delivery.
Barriers to Extracurricular Participation
By tackling the barriers below, The Crown Foundation can make a tangible difference to young people’s lives in East London—offering meaningful support that fosters confidence, ambition, and long-term opportunity.
1. Financial Pressure on Families
Rising Educational Costs:
The annual cost of sending a child to a state secondary school in the UK has risen to nearly £2,300, excluding additional expenses for extracurricular activities, music tuition, and school trips. This represents a 30% increase since 2022, largely driven by rising food prices and greater demand for educational materials and digital access. (Source – The Times)
Cost of Extracurriculars:
On average, parents spend £237.32 per child per year on after-school activities. Notably, 28% of UK parents have faced financial hardship as a result. (Source – The Educator)
Cutbacks in Activities:
Around 32% of families have reduced their children's involvement in extracurricular activities. The most commonly cited barriers are cost of the activity (57%), travel expenses (38%), and a lack of local availability (33%). (Source – NCFE)
2. Impact on Young People's Participation
Falling Attendance:
A survey by Sported found that 67% of community sports groups expect a decline in youth participation in the next six months—even for free sessions. 43% are concerned families simply can’t afford the activities, while nearly half have seen a drop in financial support. (Source – BBC)
Mental Health Concerns:
Over 54% of young people have reported a decline in their mental health due to financial insecurity caused by the cost-of-living crisis. (Source – UK Youth)
3. Socioeconomic Inequality
Participation GAP:
Young people from low-income households are significantly less likely to engage in sports, arts, and music due to the financial barrier. Activities with upfront costs—like instrumental lessons and private coaching—show the widest participation disparities. (Source – UK Government)
Educational Disparities:
The cost-of-living crisis has worsened existing inequalities. Many young people are now taking on part-time jobs to support themselves, which may detract from their academic performance and limit opportunities to engage in development-focused activities. (Source – UK Parliament)