Have you checked the latest results for Brighton & Hove? No? You might be shocked…
Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven ranks 527th out of 543 constituencies in England for outcomes for children on Free School Meals. Young people here are 103% more likely to fall through the cracks than their peers across the country. Brighton & Hove is now the 6th worst area in England for FSM youth who are NEET – not in education, employment or training.
Additionally, 29% of children and young people in Brighton & Hove are doing less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day. These inequalities grow starker when you factor in ethnicity, socio-economic background, gender and disability. These aren’t just numbers – they represent real inequality playing out daily in communities like Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, and Bevendean.
At VYD, we use the power of football and play to support communities too often overlooked. Our aim is to build a more inclusive Brighton, where every young person has the chance to belong, participate, and thrive. Our relational, person-centred approach, combined with strategic partnerships and deep community outreach, is creating something lasting.
Since 2019, we’ve been delivering impactful, life-changing programmes with local experts and volunteers.
- We founded the Crew Club Hawks, a youth football club in Whitehawk – Brighton’s most deprived area – now serving over 100 people weekly, run entirely by the community and volunteers.
- Our Sports Leaders Programme helps young people who struggle in mainstream education become confident contributors to their communities.
- We run inclusive weekly football sessions for refugee and asylum-seeking children, alongside conversational English classes, giving them space to integrate and belong.
“I used to play Friday football but there were a load of boys there and they would make fun of me playing football. But here there’s more girls joining and they don’t make fun of me.”
— Lily, age 9
We know our work changes lives. But to reach more young people and build something truly sustainable – a real pillar of the Brighton community – we need support. Without funding, this vital work cannot continue.
We’re looking to partner with purpose-driven organisations who want to invest in long-term, locally rooted change. If that’s you, we’d love to talk.
Contact: fred@vydcic.org for more.
