One year, 17 towns, dozens of voices: what we heard along the coast of England and Wales

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Reporting from some of the poorest seaside towns revealed how young people have been left isolated – but remain resilient and full of hope</p><p>If you were asked to summon up images of the coastline of England and Wales, you might think of sunny days, buckets, spades and carefree holidays. But for many young people growing up by the sea, decades of evidence tell a very different story. For them, rather than a picture-perfect horizon full of hope, the sea has become a boundary that swallows up opportunity.</p><p>With a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/09/last-youth-centre-in-one-of-englands-most-deprived-coastal-areas-faces-closure">73% decline in funding</a> for youth services in England over the past 12 years, and a lack of opportunities that has led to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/young-people-and-work-interim-report/young-people-and-work-interim-report">nearly 1 million 16- to 24-year-oldsnot in work, education</a> or training (Neet), the situation for young people, especially in places of deprivation, has never seemed more desperate.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/24/one-year-17-towns-dozens-of-voices-what-we-heard-along-the-coast-of-england-and-wales">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.