Through the lens of our work at KORI, we feel we are looking at a young generation that is showing signs of being under severe strain, of course, it may just be that they are reflecting the wider society. The high cost of living is affecting their families, they are facing challenging transitions from education to work, and there are still the lingering effects of the Covid pandemic and the demands of social media. All of this can have a negative impact on their general sense of wellbeing.
Creativity has always been a powerful tool; it helps the young make sense of the world and builds their confidence and connection with others. Across the UK however, there is apparently a narrowing of opportunities and resources in the creative fields which is inevitably impacting the poorer, working‑class communities the hardest.
The Centre for Young lives reported in 2025 that extracurricular activities fell from 46% pre‑pandemic to 37% post‑pandemic. The Cultural Learning Alliance found a 6% decrease in Creative Arts and Design subjects and a 21% decrease in Arts entries at A-Level since 2010. It is also proving harder to turn opportunities into meaningful careers, with 86% of internships in creative industries remaining unpaid. These are barriers that have nothing to do with talent.
So, Creativity is fast becoming a privilege within education as young people from affluent socio‑economic backgrounds do have a wider choice of creative subjects in school, as well as smaller classes and specialist facilities. The Sutton Trust reports that privately educated young people are six times more likely to become top musicians and five times more likely to become BAFTA‑nominated actors.
KORI’s approach has been to always place creativity at the centre of our offer, exposing young people to a wide range of art forms, facilitators and creative environments. We are makes sure that young participants explore art forms in the weekly hubs and trail through exhibitions, theatres and music performances throughout the year. Our growing partnerships with Motive Production, The National Theatre and London Symphony Orchestra provide a richness in opportunity that all young people truly deserve.
