wagamama launches partnership with UK Youth to assist young people

wagamama has today launched a partnership with UK Youth, a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.

Founded in 1911, UK Youth has a network of over 8000 organisations and nation partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

wagamama will be supporting North Tyneside Young Carers Centre by providing restaurant space for workshops and one-to-one mentoring sessions.  

wagamama will also support their young carers by facilitating cooking events and food discovery sessions and focus on the benefits of healthy eating and how to cook up simple and nutritionally beneficial meals. These cooking events will not only teach valuable kitchen skills but also provide insight into potential career paths.

The respected UK Youth charity is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever due to the effects of the pandemic.

wagamama has pledged to make 2021 a ‘year for positive action’ with a mission to support, champion and participate in more inclusive communities. 

The key objectives of wagamama’s partnership is to bring the purpose of UK Youth to life by providing platforms and spaces to youth organisations across the UK. 

Secondary to this, wagamama will support its restaurant teams in reaching out to UK Youth network of youth organisations across the UK to provide space and or food to support in providing value to their youth groups. wagamama will also be making a £10,000 donation to UK Youth to support their important work across the next year.

wagamama senior regional marketing manager Sita Dobbs said: “We are so excited to be partnering with UK Youth. We first spoke to UK Youth earlier this year in an effort to understand better how young people and our young guests are feeling after the year we’ve all had. We gained an understanding from them that young people and the youth sector have been severely impacted by the pandemic, from funding cuts to youth organisations, to decreased opportunities across careers and education, for the most vulnerable in society. The support we have outlined will be just the beginning in a long partnership to continue to give a platform and voice to the UK Youth network and support them in the amazing work they do for young people. We are honoured to be a part of their journey, and to support specifically the work of the Mosaic Trust and North Tyneside Carers.”

Vicky Chenery Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy for UK Youth said: “We’re delighted that Wagamama is partnering with UK Youth to support young people in our network through meals and experiences. By generously opening its premises to our network, Wagamama demonstrates its commitment to supporting the next generation and empowering young people across the UK.”

UK Youth’s new 2025 strategy, “Unlocking Youth Work” outlines a bold ambition to impact young lives by unlocking youth work as a catalyst for change. The charity works in partnership to build a cross-sector movement, creating a society that understands, champions, and delivers effective youth work for all.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world and it has further exacerbated the inequalities that exist in the availability of support and opportunities that young people need to thrive. 2020 has also reinforced that youth work is poorly understood and under utilised, yet it is a critical support mechanism for young people.

wagamama will also be supporting the London based Mosaic Trust by providing restaurant space for workshops, networking and mentoring events and food education sessions for its young members with a focus on vegan and vegetarian eating, an ethos that sits close both to wagamama and the mosaic trusts’ hearts. wagamama will support mosaic in facilitating in-restaurant activity for its group, with plans to span themes from cooking, mentorship and careers. wagamama will be welcoming the trust and its members to dine-in as part of their cultural outings programme, offering a safe space for the group to gather and discuss their experiences.

wagamama: our story and our food ‘kaizen’, meaning ‘good change’ is the philosophy that sits right at our heart. It shapes every dish we create, and pushes us to find better ways in all that we do. We’re restless spirits, forever creating and making things better.

We’ve been practising kaizen since 1992, when we opened our first doors in London’s Bloomsbury. Inspired by fast-paced, Japanese ramen bars and a celebration of Asian food, wagamama burst into life. We set out to create a unique way of eating; bringing the fresh, nourishing, flavours of Asia to all.