Youth Leadership
We believe young people should be involved in shaping the services, systems and policies that affect their lives. Our partnerships help young people build the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to step into leadership roles and have a say over the issues that matter to them.
Since 2021:
We’ve invested £473,000 in partnerships reaching almost 500 people [1]
93 young people have worked on solutions to challenges affecting their communities [2]
We launched new partnerships with Groundwork and St Basils. [3]
We funded five youth-led charities through our Resilience Fund [4]
Case Studies
Groundwork London: Building Leadership Skills and Enhancing Communities
Our partnership funds the Berkeley Youth Leadership programme. In 2024, 90 young people from across London stepped outside their comfort zones and tested their teamwork skills, leadership approach and environmental knowledge to create change in their local communities. We asked the Newham cohort about their experience of the programme:
“Taking part in the leadership and social action project helped us all grow in ways we never expected. We learned to plan, organise, and manage logistics for our social action campaign. This especially improved our confidence, which was really tested during our Pitch Day where we had to present to real decision-makers. I think we were all nervous, but equally proud that we could speak clearly and explain our project with confidence.
One of the projects focused on improving green spaces for our local community and reducing plastic waste. We realised that even small changes - like switching from plastic and paper straws to reusable silicone ones - can help reduce pollution and save money.
We have all developed so many skills through this programme - teamwork, time management, communication, and especially problem-solving. These are things I know I’ll take with me in my college life, future jobs, and maybe even into volunteering roles or a career in sustainability.”
AK and JJ, Newham College cohort
My Life My Say: Engaging Young People in Decision-Making Processes
Our partnership has funded future leaders through the Squad Leadership Programme. Stefano is one of the members.
“Purpose is so important for young people. Most, even if they quite enjoy school, wake up thinking about what’s stressing them out that day: exams, homework, perhaps a subject they dislike. Purpose and passion are the things which drive us forward, but we need places which allow us to express them.
“For me, mental health campaigning has been my purpose for the last three years. It’s what gets me out of bed every morning; but many of us campaigners are often left struggling to find other people our age interested in and looking to discuss similar topics.
“When I attended my first My Life My Say Democracy Café, I knew then and there that they were combatting that very issue. Young people of varying ages were able to talk openly about their opinion, share experiences, and simply be themselves.
“When it came to moderating a Democracy Café with two other amazing Squad Leaders, we felt supported and ready to create that space for other young people to voice their opinions freely. Everyone who takes part, either by leading the Café or through attending, improves their leadership and teamwork skills as they are able to get involved and share opinions with each other. All whilst being in a safe, welcoming environment.
“In a time when people’s views may feel controlled, Democracy Cafés protect the key British value of freedom of speech. Young people are encouraged to be bold and honest with their ideas, and, perhaps most importantly, find ways to pursue them.”
St Basils
We worked with members of St Basils’ Youth Advisory Board (YAB) to develop and deliver the fourth year of our Resilience Fund programme. The board members, all of whom have lived experience of homelessness, supported us with longlisting and shortlisting applications, and were directly involved in the assessment panel. In particular, the young people helped us assess the applicants’ commitment to youth leadership and engagement – a core focus of this year’s programme.
Jenna, Chair of the YAB, reflects:
“It was an amazing opportunity to be genuinely involved in selecting organisations to be funded through the Foundation’s Resilience Fund. In June 2025, nine members of the St Basils Youth Advisory Board came together for a full day of shortlisting. It was challenging work but incredibly rewarding to identify the organisations we felt most deserved support.
“We developed key questions for applicants, including:
- What is the most important impact of youth engagement in your organisation?
- What do you plan to implement to attract and sustain youth leadership and engagement?
- How do you ensure you actively listen to the young people already involved in your charity?
“These questions were shared with applicants during interviews, and we were then able to provide feedback and recommendations on funding decisions. Being part of this process helping to allocate funding felt truly meaningful. It has been an honour to contribute to the Foundation’s work in such a significant way.”
Our Partners
Groundwork London
Groundwork takes practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We fund the Youth Leadership Programme which combines skills development sessions, an outdoor residential and green social action projects, giving young people the opportunity to lead environmental change in their local communities.
Build Up
Build Up supports young people aged 10 – 25 to design and build public and community spaces. It brings young people, builders and designers together, equipping young people with the tools and agency to shape their future. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Leaders in Community
Leaders in Community is a youth-led charity founded by a group of active local young people from Tower Hamlets. Its programmes are aimed at empowering young people in leadership, governance and skills for life. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
My Life My Say
My Life My Say is a youth-led, non-partisan movement on a mission to encourage young people to participate in democracy, and get every single young person voting. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Poetic Unity
Poetic Unity is a Black-led charity that provides spaces for learning, expression and joy through poetry. Based in Brixton, Poetic Unity offers a service by the community, for the community, predominately supporting young people of Black and mixed-Black heritage, aged 10-30. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.
Social Ark
Social Ark works with talented and resilient young people from under-resourced communities to develop campaigns & social businesses that create change. Our Resilience Fund grant invests in organisational development, building resilience for the future.