The Big Conversation Comes to Blackbird Leys
6/3/20253 min read


This morning, the latest in our series of Breakfast Conversations took place in Blackbird Leys—a vibrant, diverse community with a rich history and a passionate group of professionals committed to the wellbeing of its young people. Gathered around the table were representatives from youth work, education, local government, the voluntary sector, and grassroots initiatives—all united by a shared goal: to better hear and support the young people of this area.
Themes That Echoed Loudly
The conversation began with a simple question: What are the biggest challenges facing young people in Blackbird Leys today?
The answers were as honest as they were powerful.
Technology emerged as a recurring theme—not as a villain, but as a complex reality. Phones are ever-present, offering both connection and isolation. Young people are growing up in a digital world that moves faster than most adults can comprehend. Social media shapes identity, drains motivation, and distorts relationships. But it also provides creative outlets and community—particularly for those who feel disconnected from traditional structures.
Alongside this, there was a strong sense that aspiration is under threat. Many young people in Blackbird Leys feel boxed in by circumstances, with limited belief in what’s possible for them beyond school—or outside the bounds of what they’ve always known. “Alternative provision” continues to be treated as the exception, when in fact it often unlocks the very skills, passions, and purpose that mainstream education can struggle to ignite.
Participants spoke movingly about the erosion of informal connection. In too many households, shared mealtimes and community bonds have given way to isolation behind closed doors. Schools are doing their best, but many are stretched beyond capacity. And youth workers, often the key to trust and re-engagement, are having to fight for survival in a system that too rarely values their impact.
Yet what came through most clearly was not frustration—but hope. There was an unmistakable energy in the room. A commitment to act.
What Happens Next?
The group committed to a range of practical, purposeful actions—reflecting the creativity, determination and deep care that runs through the community in Blackbird Leys:
Plans were made to improve access to safe outdoor spaces, with steps being taken to develop areas where young people can play, gather and just be themselves—free of bureaucracy or judgement.
Several attendees will be working to continue to support Saturday clubs and after school programmes, offering meaningful, fun, and consistent activities that help rebuild connection and routine.
A strong emphasis was placed on making digital engagement more constructive, including support for creative tech-based learning, training for parents on online safety, and work to help young people build digital resilience.
Youth-focused organisations will be collaborating more closely, sharing spaces, resources, and ideas to offer more joined-up provision that meets young people where they are.
There are new initiatives in development to support school transitions, particularly for children moving from Year 6 into Year 7—often a flashpoint for disengagement.
Community leaders pledged to continue championing local youth voices, ensuring young people are involved in shaping the services and activities designed to support them.
And perhaps most encouragingly, there was a shared determination to normalise and value non-academic pathways, recognising that practical, creative, and relational skills are just as vital as grades in building a good life.
Looking Ahead
This was not a meeting for meeting’s sake. Everyone in the room committed to taking action—however small—and to returning next year to reflect on what’s changed.
In March 2026, we’ll reconvene participants from across the county’s Big Conversations to share progress, celebrate successes, and keep building momentum. Because the challenges facing our young people are too big for any one organisation to tackle alone—but together, the possibilities are wide open.
Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation in Blackbird Leys. Your voices—and the voices of the young people you serve—are shaping a better future for Oxfordshire.
The Oxfordshire Shrievalty
Championing justice and community across Oxfordshire
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