Why We Must Show Up for Disengaged Young People

By Reddy, Director of Computing Reddy

Across our communities, there are young people quietly slipping through the cracks.

Some are disengaged from school, bored, frustrated, or no longer feeling that formal education speaks to who they are or what they’re capable of. Others drift away from community spaces because they don’t see themselves reflected there, or because poverty, trauma, or isolation have made participation feel impossible. For too many, the message they receive—sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly, is that their ideas don’t matter and their futures don’t belong to them.

At Computing Reddy, we know that’s not true. We know that when young people are given the right space, the right tools, and the right encouragement, they don’t just participate—they lead, create, and transform.

That’s why we centre our work around creativity, technology, and enterprise. When a young person designs something of their own, when they realise they can tell a story through a product, or when they make a decision that leads to real-world impact, like raising money for a charity they care about, they begin to see their value in a new light. They go from “What’s the point?” to “I made this happen.”

This isn’t about filling time. It’s about building purpose.

By focusing on product design, digital skills, and charitable giving, we offer more than a curriculum, we offer connection, responsibility, and growth. It’s practical, yes. But it’s also deeply personal. These sessions help young people build confidence, resilience, and communication skills that serve them in school, at home, and far beyond.

We don’t see disengagement as a problem with the young person. We see it as a signal, an invitation to do better, to listen more, and to offer something different. What we’re doing isn’t just keeping young people busy, it’s showing them what they’re capable of.

And that’s something worth turning up for.