Youth Futures Foundation

Youth Futures Foundation
Name	Youth Futures Foundation
Type	Charity
Established	2019
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Focus	Youth employment, youth unemployment, social mobility

Youth Futures Foundation is an independent charitable organisation established in 2019 to address long-term youth unemployment and disadvantage among young people across the United Kingdom. It operates by funding interventions, commissioning research, and convening stakeholders to scale evidence-based approaches aimed at improving employment outcomes for young people. The foundation works with a range of partners across the public, private, and third sectors to translate evidence into practice and influence policy.

History

The foundation was launched following a national review and policy discussions involving figures from the Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), HM Treasury, and the Department for Work and Pensions, drawing on work by independent bodies such as the Social Mobility Commission and the National Audit Office. Its creation was shaped by analyses from institutes including the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Resolution Foundation, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as well as contributions from philanthropic actors such as the Big Lottery Fund and legacy commitments related to the European Social Fund era. Early governance arrangements referenced precedents from organisations like the Prince’s Trust, Nesta, and Barrow Cadbury Trust while aligning with reporting standards used by bodies such as Charity Commission for England and Wales and NCVO.

Mission and Objectives

The organisation’s mission emphasizes reducing persistent youth unemployment and promoting social mobility among young people aged 16–24, complementary to national strategies led by the Department for Education and regional employment efforts in places like Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Its objectives include commissioning rigorous evaluations similar to those conducted by the Education Endowment Foundation, scaling interventions with demonstrated impact like initiatives inspired by the Work Programme era and pilots akin to Kickstart Scheme designs, and influencing policy debates shaped by actors such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Local Government Association.

Governance and Funding

Governance is through an independent board drawn from leadership across civil society and private sector organisations such as City of London Corporation, PwC, KPMG, Barclays, and legal oversight informed by practices at Law Society of England and Wales. Funding streams include endowment-style capital, grants from charitable foundations comparable to the Wellcome Trust and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and match-funding models with corporate partners including firms like HSBC and JP Morgan Chase. Financial stewardship follows standards promoted by the Financial Reporting Council and audit practices used by firms such as Grant Thornton and Deloitte.

Programs and Initiatives

Programmatic activity spans commissioning randomised controlled trials and mixed-methods evaluations with academic partners such as University College London, the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and the University of Manchester. Initiatives include targeted support models for young people furthest from employment, drawing on approaches used by Career Academies, TESSA (Teaching)-style coaching pilots, youth mentoring schemes akin to those run by Barnardo’s and The Prince’s Trust, and employer-engagement programmes modeled on collaborations with employers like Sainsbury’s and Tesco. The foundation supports digital and skills interventions reflecting curricula developed by organisations such as City & Guilds and Pearson plc while funding local delivery partners including Salford CVS, Luton Council, and community charities inspired by Youth Sport Trust practice.

Impact and Evaluation

Impact assessment employs methodologies from the What Works Network and evaluation frameworks used by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Economic and Social Research Council. The foundation commissions independent impact evaluations comparable to studies by the Behavioural Insights Team and evidence syntheses similar to those published by the Centre for Evidence-Based Management. Outcomes tracked include employment rates, sustained job tenure, and earnings trajectories, evaluated alongside social mobility indicators reported by the Social Mobility Commission and labour-market analyses from the Office for National Statistics.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

Partnerships span local authorities such as Leeds City Council and Bristol City Council, national employers including BT Group and Vodafone Group, charitable partners like Save the Children and YouthLink Scotland, and research collaborators at institutions including the University of Edinburgh and University of Glasgow. Stakeholder engagement includes convening forums with commissioners from the Mayoral Combined Authorities and participating in cross-sector alliances alongside organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses and the Confederation of British Industry. The foundation liaises with parliamentary scrutiny through evidence submissions to select committees such as the Work and Pensions Select Committee and contributes to policy dialogues featured in outlets like the Royal Society of Arts.

Category:Charities based in London Category:Youth charities based in the United Kingdom