In the faded seaside town of Jaywick, Essex, young people are battling deprivation and a lack of opportunities by turning to the arts. Millicent, a 22-year-old fine arts graduate, has applied for 160 jobs in six months but remains determined to stay in her coastal home, which is often labelled England's most deprived neighbourhood.
Jaywick, once a thriving resort, has been in decline since the 1950s and is frequently cited as the most deprived place in England. Despite the stigma, Millicent says the community is close-knit and she loves living on the seafront. She currently runs art workshops for children through Park Holidays, but the job ends in November when the tourist season finishes.
The wider Tendring district, which includes Jaywick, Clacton, Harwich, Frinton and Walton-on-the-Naze, has 25 neighbourhoods among the 20% most deprived in England. The average age is 50, well above the national average of 40, and 33% of 16-64 year olds are economically inactive.
Hayley Lovett, who runs the charity Teen Talk in Harwich, says many young people struggle to find work that suits them, particularly those with neurodiverse needs or anxiety who avoid customer-facing roles. The area's ageing population adds to the challenge, with Kyle, a 21-year-old, feeling the council is run 'by over-50s for over-50s'.
Kyle works with friends at We Are Music, a charity that offers music workshops and aims to provide creative outlets for local youth. Despite the difficulties, many young residents are committed to staying and improving their community through arts and culture, challenging the negative perceptions of their hometowns.
