Julia and Hans Rausing Trust

In partnership with Julia and Hans Rausing, and with additional support from the Westminster Foundation, UK Youth launched The UK Youth Fund: Thriving Minds – a £11 million initiative transforming mental health support for young people across the UK.

The fund provides grants of up to £50,000 to 99 grassroots organisations with incomes under £500,00, alongside tailored development opportunities.

With over 1,000 applications requesting £30 million annually, this partnership is unlocking critical capacity – ensuring more young people aged 8-25 can access the community-based mental health support they urgently need.

National Lottery Community Fund

The National Lottery Community Fund provides UK Youth with a core grant that strengthens our ability to support and champion our national network of youth organisations. They also fund our work through the #iwill Fund, enabling us to co‑lead the #iwill Movement, a UK‑wide campaign that empowers young people to use their voice, skills, and influence to make a positive difference on the issues they care about.

The #iwill Movement brings together over 1,000 organisations and hundreds of young ambassadors and changemakers who are leading social action in their communities. Through the movement, we work alongside Volunteering Matters to inspire and support more children and young people to take part in activities such as volunteering, campaigning, and environmental action. Together, we are creating a culture where all young people are supported to be active citizens and leaders of change.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation provides long-term, flexible funding to strengthen the national youth sector and champion the role of youth work.

Their support enables us to respond to changing needs, build sector capacity, and ensure more young people have access to inclusive, high‑quality opportunities.

Pears Foundation

Pears Foundation has been a transformative partner for UK Youth, driving both emergency relief and long-term resilience in the youth sector. As a founding partner of the UK Youth Covid Relief Fund in 2021, they helped distribute £1.8m to 118 youth organisations at risk of closure.

In 2022, Pears partnered with us again to launch the UK Youth Cost of Living Fund. Now a £7m fund, it provides unrestricted grants with capacity building support to over 200 grassroots youth organisations. These funds have helped services remain open, protected youth worker jobs, and adapted provision in response to surging demand caused by economic pressures.

Impact has been far-reaching:
– Expanded services to meet growing demand, with many offering free or subsidised access to ensure no young person is turned away.
– Strengthened youth voice by funding youth-led initiatives and involving young people in decision-making.
– Increased organisational sustainability, giving leaders the breathing space to plan for the future, invest in staff development, and diversify income streams.

Through this partnership, Pears Foundation has helped safeguard vital youth work across the UK, ensuring that young people, particularly those most affected by economic hardship, continue to have safe spaces, trusted relationships, and the support they need to thrive.

People’s Postcode Lottery

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have supported UK Youth through two key streams. The Postcode Innovation Trust funded Young Changemakers (2021–2024), empowering young Black and Black mixed‑heritage leaders to tackle racism and mental health inequalities.

The Postcode Education Trust provides a core grant to strengthen our national capacity and deepen support for the youth sector..

Sir Alec Reed Prize

UK Youth is the proud recipient of £1 million Sir Alec Reed Prize, awarded by The Reed Foundation to support 16-24-year-olds facing poor mental health and unemployment.

Chosen from over 20 charities for our youth-led, innovative approach, this partnership will help co-create a pioneering programme with young people, youth workers, and employers. It will include workshops, mentoring, internships, and tailored workplace support, addressing one of the biggest barriers to employment today.

Togtether, we’re helping young people not just find wotk – but thrive in it.

Westminster Foundation

In 2022, the Westminster Foundation invested £1m in our Thriving Minds fund, enabling local youth organisations in Westminster to deliver vital mental health and wellbeing support.

This investment strengthened community provision, expanded access to safe spaces, and ensured young people could access trusted support at a critical time.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

UK Youth works in partnership with the DCMS to deliver programmes that expand opportunities, amplify youth voice, and shape national policy. As a trusted delivery partner, we help turn government investment into meaningful, life‑changing experiences for young people, especially those who face the greatest barriers.

Adventures Away from Home Fund

Funded by DCMS, the Adventures Away from Home Fund gives more young people the chance to take part in outdoor learning, adventure activities, and residential trips. These experiences build confidence, develop essential life skills, and create lasting connections with the natural world.

UK Youth has distributed bursaries that have enabled over 12,000 young people to access these opportunities, with targeted support for those from low‑income families, areas of high deprivation, and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This programme is a key part of the government’s National Youth Guarantee, and we are proud to play a leading role in making it a reality.

National Youth Strategy

UK Youth is a lead partner commissioned by DCMS to help shape the National Youth Strategy for England. Working with My Life My Say, the #iwill Movement, and Savanta, we led a nationwide conversation to ensure young people’s voices drive the future of youth policy.

Through our Deliver You consultation programme, we engaged thousands of young people to share their priorities, ideas, and aspirations. From local events to online discussions, we are creating meaningful opportunities for young people to influence government plans and ensure the National Youth Strategy reflects their real needs and ambitions.