NEWS
EVENTS
Idris Elba and Big Zuu - THE DON’T STOP YOUR FUTURE YOUTH TOUR
This summer from July through August 2025, Don’t Stop Your Future (DSYF), actor and activist Idris Elba’s flagship campaign to end serious youth violence in the UK, will partner with Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) and the TV Chef and Rapper Big Zuu-fronted British natural mineral water brand DRIP to deliver the Don’t Stop Your Future Youth Tour a free, multi-borough youth activation across London.
The Don’t Stop Your Future Youth Tour is a grassroots project designed to create safe, inspiring spaces for young people through music, creativity and fitness - a bold counter-narrative in the face of over 1,000 UK youth club closures since 2010 (UNISON, 2024). As public services shrink and opportunities decline, the tour places a mobile platform of hope, creativity and connection right in the heart of London’s communities. The initiative builds on DSYF’s ongoing work across the UK to tackle youth violence by advocating for investment in youth services, addressing social deprivation, and creating opportunities for young people deserve. Stopping off in Hackney, Westminster, Lewisham and Kensington & Chelsea, it centres around YUAF’s iconic double-decker studio bus, a fully-kitted out creative hub offering free workshops, live performances, and real-time support from artists and youth workers.
Ahead of the borough stops, the bus landed at the London Youth Games last weekend and will attend Rockstar Energy Presents: Wireless, where young attendees will be able to explore the space, take part in creative activities, and learn more about the project’s wider aims. The bus will also be active across London communities during the summer, in between tour stops.
Each location will host a day-long event filled with activity. Young people will be able to participate in music production and DJing workshops on board the bus, join freestyle and open mic sessions, access mental health and wellbeing support, and take part in group fitness sessions programmed by community gym LNX - a safe space on the Lennox Estate led by local trainers known for their work supporting young people across London. The bus will also offer opportunities to record, perform, and collaborate with guest artists, mentors, and youth workers.
LONDON YOUTH GAMES - The tour kicked off last weekend at the London Youth Games, engaging 600 young people (ages 8–16) from schools across the city. Aimed at those new to creative programmes, the bus will offer music production and lyric-writing workshops to spark fresh artistic expression.
ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS WIRELESS - Next stop: London’s leading rap and hip-hop festival. The bus will offer DJ and podcast workshops as well as open mic sessions, with a roll-call of A-list talent dropping in for surprise sets. It’s a chance for young people to experience the energy of live music and explore their own creative potential in an electrifying festival atmosphere.
HACKNEY: Returning to Idris Elba’s home borough, the Hackney stop will activate Morningside Community Centre, a trusted, independently run hub recognised as a local ‘safe zone, the day will be filled with fitness, DJ workshops, an opportunity to hear the voices of young people through Podcasting, a community BBQ and live music.
WESTMINSTER: Returning to Big Zuu’s home borough, the Westminster stop brings energy and inspiration to the vibrant youth community at Happy Hub, hosted by The Avenues Youth Centre – a space previously supported by AJ Tracey and Bashy. Expect a day packed with live performances from rising artists, hands-on DJ and podcast workshops, a buzzing community BBQ, and a special guest appearance from Trevor Nelson.
LEWISHAM: The Lewisham stop home to and led by ex-beneficiary and YUAF Ambassador Koder, joined by special guest Nadia Rose. The day will spotlight emerging local talent through performances, music-making, production, songwriting sessions, and a high-energy basketball tournament.
KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA: Kids On The Green (KOTG) – a vital charity founded in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire to provide young people with a safe space to express themselves and belong – hosts the final stop of the youth summer tour. Teaming up for their annual end-of-summer celebration, the day will feature high-energy fitness sessions, DJ and podcast workshops, songwriting, and live performances from KOTG’s incredible young artists.
YUAF and DSYF are also pleased to welcome grassroots organisation YourStance to the programme – a preventative education initiative that empowers young people with life-saving skills and the confidence to act in emergencies. Their powerful, hands-on workshops will equip participants and their communities with the practical tools to respond to life-threatening situations.
The tour is a collaboration between three partners committed to grassroots change:
Don’t Stop Your Future (DSYF) is a flagship initiative of the Elba Hope Foundation, founded by artist and activist Idris Elba to tackle systemic inequality and champion youth-led solutions. Focused on safety, opportunity, and cultural power, DSYF began in 2018 as a streetwear campaign and evolved into a powerful movement for youth safety, policy reform, and systemic accountability. 2024 marked a call to act that transformed into a movement. From the Parliament Square activation to national policy wins, DSYF elevates stories to push for lasting change.
Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) has been transforming underfunded communities across London since 2009. Through its double-decker studio bus and frontline youth teams, YUAF creates safe and creative spaces for young people to express themselves and unlock their potential.
DRIP is a British natural mineral water brand committed to supporting young people’s wellbeing through hydration, opportunity and positive action. Their support for the Summer Bus Activation is part of their wider investment in youth impact and community care. Fronted by TV Chef and rapper Big Zuu, DRIP is committed to sustainability and creativity, standing out with striking can designs and a mission to eliminate single-use plastics.
Workshops and sessions across the tour are being delivered with support from a range of community partners, including YUAF’s frontline mentors, trainers from community gym LNX, and youth mental health practitioners dedicated to making spaces safer and more inclusive.
“This tour isn’t about ego or exposure, it’s about showing up for young people with real intention and lighting up their communities with love, care and creativity. We’re pulling up in places that are too often ignored, bringing opportunity, connection and a message that says: your future matters. This collaboration with DSYF and DRIP is proof that when culture and community come together, real change can happen.” - Kerry O’Brien, MBE, FRSA, Founder & CEO, Young Urban Arts Foundation
“When I started DRIP, it wasn’t just about water; it was about putting something good back into the culture that raised me. This tour is in action. We’re bringing energy, creativity and real support, directly to the ends, to the young people who need it most. Teaming up with DSYF and YUAF means we can make a real impact - not from a distance, but face-to-face, on their turf, on their terms. I’m proud to be part of something that’s about more than talk; it’s about showing up, showing love and showing what's possible." Big Zuu, TV Chef & Rapper, DRIP Co-Founder
“DSYF began in 2018 as a cry for help - from a parent, not a politician. I’ve seen what happens when young people are left without safe spaces or support. This tour is about showing up, bringing creativity, care, and connection right to the communities that need it most. I wouldn’t be where I am today without youth centres and programmes that believed in me. We need real government investment in those spaces, because every young person deserves more than just a chance. They deserve hope.” - Idris Elba, Founder, Don’t Stop Your Future / Elba Hope Foundation
More information, including guest artist announcements and activities, will be shared in the coming weeks.
SUMMER BUS TOUR DATES
FRIDAY 4 JULY, SUNDAY 6TH JULY
LONDON YOUTH GAMES
Taster Music production and songwriting workshops
FRIDAY 11 - SUNDAY 13 JULY
ROCKSTAR ENERGY PRESENTS WIRELESS, FINSBURY PARK
On-site bus activation for festival-goers
TUESDAY 12 AUGUST - HACKNEY
London, E9
12 PM to 6 PM
FRIDAY 15 AUGUST - WESTMINSTER
23 Third Avenue, W10 4RS
12 PM to 6 PM
WEDNESDAY 20 AUGUST - LEWISHAM
Evelyn Estate, Blue Cage Basketball Court
Clyde St, London SE8 5TQ,
12 PM to 6 PM
SUNDAY 31 AUGUST - KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
Latimer Road, W10 6RQ
12 PM to 6 PM
