Ten years on - the case for Young People’s Foundations (YPFs) is stronger than ever. After all the discussion about the new National Youth Strategy, and the renewed attention on what young people need to thrive, the John Lyons Charity Report looking at a decade of the Young People’s Foundations, offers a moment for reflection.

It’s been two decades since England last had a National Youth Strategy. Today’s launch marks a long-awaited moment for young people and the youth sector.

This year’s Autumn Budget, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, delivered updates on income tax, state pensions and mileage based EV charges - but what was noticeably absent was any long-term solution to rebuilding the UK’s youth sector. 

If you’ve come across Young H&F and wondered what a Young People’s Foundation actually is, you’re not alone. The term might sound a bit sector-jargony, but in reality, YPFs are quite a simple idea.

This week’s announcement of an £88 million government investment in youth provision is a welcome and timely recognition of what so many of us already know - young people need safe, engaging, and inspiring spaces, now more than ever.

Over the past few months, a group of building-based youth clubs in Hammersmith & Fulham have been coming together to discuss the challenges, opportunities and threats facing physical youth spaces. These conversations - held in person, in the spaces where youth work happens - have resulted in the formation of the Buildings for Young People Alliance.

Just over a month ago, the team at Young Hammersmith & Fulham (Young H&F) returned from Berlin, brains buzzing and notebooks overflowing.

At the start of April, our Young Grantmakers awarded £50,000 across 11 organisations delivering meaningful work with young people in Hammersmith & Fulham. Yesterday, they met the people behind the applications at our first ever Funded Futures Forum.