Doing more of what works in 2026
“In 2025 we did some things we’re really proud of, not for the sake of activity, but because they genuinely strengthened the youth sector in Hammersmith & Fulham.”
Written by Gareth Dixon, CEO of Young H&F
Last year Young H&F turned eight. When I think about being eight - well, firstly, I’m reminded that it was a long time ago - but once I’m past that, I think about how it’s an age marked by curiosity. Your confidence begins to grow at eight. You start to have a clearer sense of how the world fits together, and in many ways, that’s exactly what ‘eight’ felt like at Young H&F.
In 2025 we did some things we’re really proud of, not for the sake of activity, but because they genuinely strengthened the youth sector in Hammersmith & Fulham.
One of our Young Grant Makers at the Funded Futures Forum
Last year we helped build skills in the local youth sector, supporting over 30 youth workers to gain recognised qualifications, with strong completion rates and practical learning going straight into frontline practice. We supported community organisations in Hammersmith & Fulham financially, with more than £50,000 in small grants, and we also brought young people into the heart of that decision-making through our Young Grant Makers programme. Those young people didn’t just allocate funding - they actually met the organisations they funded through our Funded Futures Forum. Both the young people and organisations asked questions, shared what mattered to them and created opportunity for learning on both sides.
This leads me perfectly into what I felt we did especially well in our eight year - and that’s that we really leaned into our role as a connector and convenor.
Throughout the course of the year, Young H&F brought together over 70 different organisations - through forums, trainings, one-to-one support and our very wholesome Community Coffee Mornings. All of these events were completely free and led to lots of wonderful outcomes.
An inclusive drama club connected with a female empowerment group and collaborated to run an enriching mother and daughter creative workshop.
A social mobility and oracy charity was supported to apply for a pot of money that will enable their confidence-building work.
A long-standing youth club in Sands End met a creative writing group and put their heads together - they now hold a weekly writing club for young people aged 8-11.
Our team often jokes that we are the borough’s matchmaker for youth sector organisations, but it couldn’t be more true.
So much good comes from Young H&F’s role as a connector and facilitator. Holding space for honest cross-sector collaboration and conversation – between funders, organisations, public sector bodies and young people - is so important, and it’s positive to see that national government is finally recognising this.
With a renewed national focus on youth work it feels like a glimmer of genuine opportunity is presenting itself and we, as a borough, need to be open and willing to take hold of it. The growing appetite for voluntary organisations, schools, councils, health partners and more to work together is where is able to serve. Without coordination and deep local knowledge, there’s a real risk that the first national youth strategy in twenty years will be a document and nothing more.
So, in 2026, our ninth year, our focus is simple: do more of what works. We’ll deepen our training, grants and youth voice work. We’ll make it easier and more beneficial to be part of our network. We’ll invest in peer-to-peer learning and cross-sector collaboration, and we’ll continue to amplify young people’s voices in meaningful ways. By the end of this year, I’d like to see a more connected youth sector in Hammersmith & Fulham, with young people genuinely shaping local priorities - and Young H&F firmly established as the place people turn to when they want to support young people well.