Memorable Day for London Youth Zones at the Lord Mayor’s Show 2024

On Saturday 9th November 2024, over 50 floats and 7,000 participants took to the streets of the City of London to welcome the new Lord Mayor, Alastair King. Among the dazzling floats was a vibrant entry by OnSide & Blenheim Chalcot, showcasing a collection of young people’s artwork to celebrate five years of OnSide Youth Zones in London. Members from all four London Youth Zones—Unitas in Barnet, Future in Barking and Dagenham, Legacy in Croydon, and WEST in Hammersmith—joined the procession with pride, representing their communities and creativity.

The Lord Mayor’s Show, the world’s oldest and longest civic procession, spans three miles through the streets of London, drawing thousands of spectators and millions more via the BBC One live broadcast. This year’s show included a special feature of the Lord Mayor’s recent visit to WEST Youth Zone, where he engaged with young members and even joined a member called Pierson in the boxing ring for a memorable training session. At the event, members had the chance to interview him, marking an exciting moment for all involved. Watch the interview here!

For young people in the London Youth Zones, the day was unforgettable. Hannah, a member of WEST Youth Zone, shared her excitement: “I’m great, I’m having a really good time; the music is loud, and it’s really nice!” Hannah explained that WEST, an acronym for “Where Everyone Sticks Together,” is more than just a youth centre—it’s a supportive community where young people can enjoy themselves and take their minds off daily stresses. Reflecting on the unique opportunities she’s had through WEST, she said, “I personally have had many opportunities, like meeting Prince William and the Lord Mayor.”

The 2024 Lord Mayor’s Show was a day of joy, community, and creativity, and young people from the London Youth Zones walked away with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

About OnSide

We're a national youth charity determined to make sure that all young people have the opportunity to shine. The chance to discover their passion and their purpose.

We raise the funds to build a network of state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres, what we call Youth Zones in the UK’s most disadvantaged areas. These are incredible spaces filled with energy, inspiration and highly skilled youth workers who truly believe in young people.

This is passionate, properly-funded youth provision. A unique partnership between young people and their community, local authorities and private business leadership, and a growing movement of supporters. Together, we believe that all young people need is a chance to discover what they’ve got and where it could take them.