YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES PLAN

Ebbsfleet is one of England’s fastest-growing new towns – a place where thousands of new homes are arriving before the infrastructure young people need has caught up. In February 2026, Ebbsfleet Development Corporation commissioned Youth Leads UK to find out directly from young people what’s missing, and what a better future could look like. Over six months, we spoke to more than 300 young people and 15 local organisations. What we heard was consistent: somewhere to belong, activities they can actually afford, and a genuine say in how their area is being built.

THE GAP

We spoke to over 300 young people and 15 organisations across Ebbsfleet and the surrounding areas. What came back was consistent and specific:

Somewhere to simply exist – a space to be, that doesn’t ask anything of them
Cost is the single biggest barrier to taking part in anything
Many don’t know what they don’t know – awareness of what’s already on offer is low
Real gaps in age, inclusion and awareness – older teens and diverse communities feel least catered for
They want to be heard, not just served

300+

YOUNG PEOPLE

consulted online and in-person at four schools and colleges

ORGANISATIONS

were consulted, from councils to community groups

16+

THE AGE GROUP

Most overlooked by current provision

PRIORITY AREAS

Shape the costed delivery plan

THE PLAN

The Youth Opportunities Plan sets out five priorities: expanding everyday, affordable spaces across the area; making activities free or low-cost by default; making it easier to find out what’s actually on offer; reaching young people currently left out, including older teenagers and diverse communities; and establishing a paid Youth Forum so young people have a genuine, ongoing say in decisions that affect them. Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s role throughout is to convene – overseeing developer contributions and coordinating partners to create a stronger offer for young people.

Read the full findings and delivery plan: Report [web resolution] | Report [print resolution] | Costed Delivery Plan

ONLY 1 IN 5

Young people feel that they are genuinely listened to

THE MODEL

Nationally, research shows nine in ten young people have never been asked their opinion about the future of their neighbourhood, even though most say they’d like to be. In Ebbsfleet, only one in five feel listened to when decisions are made about the area they live in. But when young people are asked, they don’t hold back. Dartford Youth Council asked for more political education and more equitable access to civic life. This report asked more than 300 young people directly, and their answers shaped every recommendation in it.

“No one really asks us what we want.”
– Young person, Ebbsfleet