It’s no secret that London’s youth scene took a hit when 30% of youth centres shut down between 2010 and 2019 due to funding cuts. Those centres were more than just hang-out spots—they were lifelines. For many, no safe space meant real danger. But now, one East London studio is using music as its weapon to bring back hope, confidence, and community—and it’s changing the game for young people.
A Studio with Soul in London
Meet JR Josephs, founder of Sirlute—a creative arts hub in East London that uses music, fashion, filmmaking, and game development to equip young people (aged 5–25) with skills they can use in real life. It’s the kind of place that steps in when the system drops out
Josephs didn’t sit waiting for support. He got to work, renting studio space and using funds from donations to build an environment where young people can actually learn to believe. And it’s doing more than just filling a gap—it’s changing stories.
“As soon as youth clubs closed, trouble started in those areas…some ended up fighting and killing each other,” says Josephs, who grew up there himself. That’s the
