What is the Active Futures Cohort?

Applications for Active Futures Cohort have now closed.

The Active Futures Cohort is a fully funded fellowship and development programme for practitioners working with young people through sport, movement or outdoor learning.

Delivered by UK Youth in partnership with The Young Foundation, the programme will support a group of practitioners to develop, test, and strengthen new approaches to physical literacy — helping more young people build positive, lasting relationships with movement and physical activity.

Spanning nine months, the programme combines in-person, online and self-directed learning. Fellows will work alongside young people and peers from across England to co-design inclusive, community-rooted ideas that promote equity and wellbeing through physical activity.

This is more than a training programme — it’s a collaborative space for learning, action and innovation.

Who Can Apply?

The Active Futures Cohort is open to organisations across England who are:

• Charities, not-for-profit organisations, or Community Interest Companies (CICs)
• Working in youth work, sport, or outdoor learning
• Able to demonstrate at least two years of delivery experience with young people
• Delivering work aligned with the Physical Literacy Consensus Statement for England
• Holding appropriate safeguarding policies and public liability insurance

Each organisation will nominate one staff member to take part in the programme as a fellow. Fellows should have a passion for improving physical activity access for young people — especially those facing structural or social barriers to participation.

About the Opportunity

This is a fully funded opportunity, with each successful organisation receiving £15,200 to support participation, access needs and travel costs.

• Across 18 programme days over 9 months, fellows will engage in:
• Residentials at Avon Tyrrell – peer learning, workshops, and connection
• Webinars and learning sets – led by sector experts and innovators
• Peer coaching – to reflect, challenge and develop ideas collaboratively
• Co-design with young people – embedding youth voice and leadership
• Community-based project development – testing new inclusive approaches
• Access to resources and readings – practical tools to support your practice
• Showcasing your work – profile building through a national platform