Together we can redefine youth development, placing equity and empowerment at the forefront of policy and practice.
An Open Request
Our website offers just a glimpse of what we’re building — a bold vision for the future of youth development across the UK. At YOUTHOOD, we’re dedicated to redefining approaches to youth development through powerful partnerships, bold strategies, and a deep commitment to social equity.
To deliver on our mission, we are actively seeking new partnerships through our Youth Empowerment Coalition and new funding and commissioning collaborations. Together, we can create a future where every young person is equipped, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
Youth Empowerment Coalition
The Youth Empowerment Coalition will be our flagship, nationwide, multisectoral partnership uniting organisations and leaders who believe in embedding equity and empowerment at the heart of youth development.
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We are actively seeking to build a dynamic coalition of partners across sectors who share our vision for transformative, youth-centred development. We welcome industry leaders, local businesses, charities, policy and research organisations, universities, youth services, schools, local authorities, and government bodies who are committed to embedding equity, empowerment, and innovation into the heart of their work with young people. Ideal partners are those who recognise the need for systemic change, are willing to co-develop solutions alongside young people, and are committed to translating national conversations into local and regional action. Together, we can build a collaborative network capable of driving forward youth voice, shaping policy, delivering impactful campaigns, and setting a new benchmark for what meaningful youth support should look like across the country.
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Coalition members will co-develop initiatives and national campaign efforts that reflect and amplify youth voice, ensuring young people are at the heart of every conversation. We are seeking organisations, institutions, and leaders who can help us deliver impactful regional and national campaigns, co-produce policy research and recommendations, and build innovative frameworks for youth empowerment across sectors. Whether through strategic influence, research collaboration, or direct programme support, coalition partners will play a vital role in expanding YOUTHOOD’s reach and realising a future where every young person’s potential is fully recognised and championed.
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By joining the Youth Empowerment Coalition, members become part of a reimagined effort to set a new national standard for meaningful, systemic youth support — building collective momentum for change across sectors. Our coalition recognises that no single organisation or sector can transform the youth experience alone; it requires a unified, coordinated approach that champions equity, innovation, and youth-led leadership at every level. By working together, we can dismantle barriers, amplify youth voice, and create lasting structures that ensure all young people, regardless of their background, are equipped to thrive.
Funding & Charitable Commissioning
YOUTHOOD’s vision is bold: to reimagine the systems that shape young lives, from education and social care to employment and community leadership. Delivering this vision requires funders, grantmakers, and commissioners who are committed to high-impact, youth-led innovation. Through strong partnerships, we can drive sustainable, measurable change at national, regional, and local levels. Below are our current funding priorities:
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To achieve YOUTHOOD’s ambitious vision, we are seeking operational funding that strengthens our core capacity and infrastructure. Investment in our organisation will enable us to sustain and expand national advocacy, build strategic multi-sector partnerships, and scale youth-led outreach development across the UK. Flexible operational funding allows us to respond to emerging needs, maintain high standards of youth engagement, and embed innovation across all areas of our work. Whether through single-year or multi-year support, funders will play a vital role in powering long-term, systemic change for young people.
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We are seeking funding to drive forward targeted strands of our national advocacy and system change work. Our flagship initiative, the Katalyst Access Campaign, aims to widen youth access to career-related and leadership opportunities, including the launch of the Katalyst Digital Platform, in-school Post-18 readiness events, and regional career conventions. We are also developing the Schools Enrichment Campaign and Leaving-Care Transition Campaign, both currently in consultation stages, where youth-led research will inform national reports and shape future advocacy efforts. Investment in our campaign programmes will directly support youth voice, create accessible opportunities, and drive system-level reforms rooted in young people’s lived experiences.
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The Young Leaders Board sits at the heart of YOUTHOOD’s mission to centre youth voice in decision-making, advocacy, and national change. We are seeking funding to support the full participation of our young leaders by resourcing regular online and in-person meetings, enabling their involvement in major events and discussions across the country, and covering travel reimbursements to remove financial barriers to their engagement. Support will also help us create bespoke development opportunities, ensuring Young Leaders gain insight, influence policy, and shape the campaigns and initiatives that impact their futures. Investing in our Young Leaders Board is essential to building an authentic, inclusive youth movement that reflects the lived experiences and leadership of the young people we serve.
Funders and commissioning partners are not simply supporters — they are essential co-creators of a fairer, more responsive future. Through your investment, we can deliver youth-led consultations, launch high-impact campaigns, drive regional collaboration, and create sustainable structures that centre youth voice at every level of decision-making. Together, we can build a future where every young person is empowered to realise their potential.
How to Get Involved
Joining The Youth Empowerment Coalition
If you are an organisation, institution, or leader committed to advancing youth empowerment, we invite you to join the Youth Empowerment Coalition. As a coalition member, you will play a key role in co-developing national initiatives, championing youth voice within your sector, and contributing to systemic change across education, social care, policy, and industry. We are keen to hear from organisations ready to collaborate, innovate, and embed YOUTHOOD’s frameworks within their work to build a more equitable future for young people.
Partnering Through Funding & Commissioning
If you are a funder, trust, foundation, corporate partner, or commissioning body seeking to invest in youth-led impact, we welcome the opportunity to work with you. Whether through operational funding, targeted campaign investment, or supporting regional youth initiatives, your partnership will directly power systemic change and amplify youth leadership at every level. Together, we can drive forward new standards for meaningful youth engagement and create real pathways for young people to thrive.
Supporting Our Young Leaders Board
If you are passionate about investing directly in youth leadership, we invite you to support the development and engagement of YOUTHOOD’s Young Leaders Board. Funding in this area will enable us to resource regular meetings, provide training and development opportunities, remove financial barriers to participation, and ensure young leaders can actively contribute to national conversations and major events. Your support will make it possible for young people to lead authentically, influence change, and ensure that no voice is left behind due to circumstance.
Contact Us
If you are interested in joining the Youth Empowerment Coalition, supporting the Young Leaders Board, or partnering with YOUTHOOD through funding or commissioning opportunities, we invite you to express your interest by completing the form below or contacting us directly. We would be delighted to discuss how we can align our missions and work collaboratively towards creating a fairer, more responsive future for the next generation.
