What we do

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We are a national voice for the youth sector, championing the critical role youth work plays in young people’s lives. As outlined in our 2025 #UnlockingYouthWork strategy, we believe youth work is a catalyst for change that young people need now more than ever.

Only by working together can we tackle the systemic problems letting young people down. Our goal is to ensure all young people can access youth work and fulfil their full potential. We do this by building a movement of change; developing and funding youth work programmes and bringing young people and youth workers together with business leaders, teachers, social workers, doctors, policy makers and other professionals to learn together, solve key problems for young people and campaign for social change.

Find out more about our 5 key areas of work below:

Mental Health

We have designed and tested programmes that can effectively support young people’s mental health and support them to lead change in the mental health system.

Employability

We have designed and tested programmes that provide effective employment support for young people, including those facing additional barriers.

An #iwill ambassador talks about their experiences.

Social Action

We support and champion young people. We invest in their passions, talents and skills, amplifying their voices and empowering them to take an active role in transforming their communities and wider society.

Outdoor Learning

Inspiring Young People Through Inclusive Outdoor Learning At Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Centre in the New Forest

young people in a line smiling to camera in the forest

Physical Literacy

We want all young people to have access to outdoor learning opportunities and build positive physical literacy, seeing movement and physical activity as an enjoyable, everyday part of their lives.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment into the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding of how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. We address this through:

Our programmes

We design and deliver youth work programmes that address urgent needs such as mental health, employability, and social action. These programmes are based on evidence and designed to help young people navigate the complex challenges they face, enabling them to build the skills and confidence necessary to thrive. Through our programmes, we gather data about the role that youth work plays in young people’s lives.

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Our grants

We provide grants and organisational support to enhance youth work’s accessibility, sustainability, and impact. If you are interested in contributing to a fund, please get in touch at funding@ukyouth.org. If you are a youth organisation – please sign up to join the UK Youth Network and we will keep you updated on future funding opportunities.

Our network

We support our network of over 8,000 youth organisations and partners, helping them build capacity, foster connections, and strengthen confidence to transform young lives.

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Policy and research

We conduct research to highlight the impact of youth work and provide evidence to improve youth services. We work locally and nationally to ensure that policymakers recognise the value of youth work and invest in it accordingly. Through research and advocacy, we aim to ensure that youth work continues to make a real difference in the lives of young people across the UK.

Our campaigns

Our campaigns raise awareness about the positive impact of youth work and advocate for greater investment in youth services. Through these campaigns, we mobilise support for young people and ensure they have access to the life-changing opportunities that youth work provides. By campaigning for social change, we aim to secure more funding and resources for the youth sector.

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Our Outdoor Learning Centre

Avon Tyrrell is our leading outdoor learning venue, located in the heart of the New Forest. This beautiful site offers a wide range of inclusive outdoor activities and tailored programmes designed to build confidence, resilience, and teamwork in young people. Through positive, safe learning spaces with appropriate levels of challenge, young people at Avon Tyrrell gain valuable life skills and a sense of achievement.

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Youth First

Youth First is an accelerated leadership development programme designed for individuals who want to become youth workers and take on leadership roles in the youth sector. This two-year programme provides participants with on-the-job training through two placements, as well as accelerated learning in Youth Work Principles and Practice, Systems Leadership, and Operational Excellence. With the option to access a PG Dip in Youth Work, participants gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to lead and make a positive impact in the lives of young people.

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Joined Up Institute

The Joined Up Institute is a year-round cross-sector experiential learning initiative that brings together professionals from youth work, education, employment, health, social care, business, and government. Through collaboration and shared learning, we scale evidence of what works to improve outcomes for young people across the UK. This initiative will play a key role in transforming the future of youth services and ensuring young people’s needs are met across all sectors.

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