Cost is the biggest barrier to young people taking part in hobbies

Young people’s engagement in hobbies and extracurricular activities is widely recognised as a key contributor to health, wellbeing as well as personal development. At Young Scot, our mission is to connect young people to universal opportunities and services that enhance these outcomes while addressing barriers such as poverty.

Our recent survey of 688 young people across Scotland highlights that nearly all respondents understand the benefits of hobbies, yet almost half (48%) identify cost as the main barrier to participation. Location and time constraints were also cited as significant hurdles. While many young people are actively engaged financial pressures remain a clear challenge, with 64% covering equipment costs and 45% paying for classes or activities. Only 22% participate in completely free hobbies.

These insights reinforce the vital role hobbies play in building confidence, developing skills and providing enjoyment. They also underscore the opportunity for Young Scot to expand our support, particularly through our discounts and rewards programme, helping to reduce the cost of taking part in hobbies ranging from photography to hillwalking. By using this data to inform our services, we can better connect young people to meaningful opportunities, improve wellbeing and challenge the financial barriers that prevent many from fully participating in activities they enjoy and support them to live happy and fulfilling lives.