Last chance to apply! Applications close at 12pm on Monday.

Why we need community research networks Announced earlier today, UKRI and The Young Foundation are delighted to be working together to support nine community research networks across the country.

Why do we need community research networks? Read this blog: bit.ly/4cvM6jw

Great to be at the People's History Museum today with our Community Research Networks programme with @ukri.org.

Members of each network are convening to reflect on learnings, build relationships, and discuss the power of community research and its impact on people's lives. More 👇
bit.ly/4vzNBWo

A Million Acts of Hope In May 2026, community and faith groups, plus charities big and small, will come together to celebrate and inspire A Million Acts of Hope across Britain. There is far more that connects us than divide...

We're proud be part of A Million Acts Of Hope, highlighting what is possible when people come together to make change happen 👏

The campaign launches today, with an invitation to contribute to 'the biggest ever thank you card'👇 It builds to a week of action, 13-20 May.

More at millionactsofhope.org

Could you be our new Head of Business Development? If you have relevant experience and networks within sectors connected to our vision, mission and purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

⏰ Applications close 20 April
👇 Find out more and apply

Vocational education in England: ‘why new qualifications won’t fix the system’ | The Young Foundation The UK plans to introduce V-levels – but will they fix vocational education? Exploring the challenges facing skills and training for young people.

BLOG 💭 | Vocational education in England: ‘new qualifications won’t fix the system’

But Senior Researcher Amelia Clayton says the new V-Levels alone won’t address deeper challenges in the education system 👇
https://bit.ly/3O5flS5

He continues, "For many organisations, 20% VAT relief could mean the difference between staying open - and closing."

Dr Jack Layton welcomes the call: "As evidence continues to grow on the vital role that community spaces and social infrastructure play in supporting collective wellbeing, we strongly urge the government to consider how it can better support these essential assets.

Treasury urged to scrap VAT for youth clubs and community centres Labour's sister party pointed out museums and galleries are eligible for a refund on VAT to reflect their public value, while vital community buildings were forced to shell out

Interesting to see the @coopparty.party.coop call for the scrapping of VAT for youth clubs and community centres 👇

Report calls for a ‘whole society’ approach to crisis planning | The Young Foundation Our CEO says ‘neighbours are more supportive than government’ when crisis hits.

Explore our research and latest thinking in this space 👇

📖 Report calls for 'whole society approach' to crisis planning: bit.ly/4cc42zo
💭 'The water outage in Kent shows the UK is ill-prepared for crisis - and that communities are critical': bit.ly/4dumXb7

"Without that shift, we risk being better stocked but not better prepared, particularly for those most vulnerable when the next crisis hits."

"It's vital we see the bigger picture: resilience depends on strong local networks, trusted relationships, and investment in community capacity; a 'whole-of-society' approach, where government works alongside civil society and communities.

She continues, "Recent crises in the UK – from flooding to infrastructure failures – have shown that communities, charities and local groups are often the real first responders, stepping in long before formal systems can fully mobilise. Yet these groups remain under-recognised and under-resourced.

Our CEO, @parlysue.bsky.social notes, "While many households are taking sensible steps in the face of shortages, crisis preparedness is far from just an individual responsibility - it must be collective.

Oats, sardines and crisps: emergency foods to stockpile – and why you should share them In turbulent times, experts recommend building up a store of food if possible – focusing on long-life, no-cook items

An important piece from @theguardian.com on emergency food stockpiling: bit.ly/4c5QWUk. And one that feels particularly timely, given recent and ongoing crises facing UK communities, as well as many around the globe.

‘Is community collaboration the antidote to social division?’ | The Young Foundation Our Senior Researcher, Leonie Taylor, says with shared power and collective problem-solving, Britain’s best days are yet to come.

A little dose of hope here from @theyoungfdn.bsky.social:

“Britain’s best days aren’t behind us. They’re being built locally, right now. Not through grand gestures, but through everyday acts of collaboration, care and collective action.”

💭 BLOG | How do we move from short-term thinking to a deeper climate transformation rooted in people, communities and participation?

Our latest blog from Leonie Taylor @theyoungfdn.bsky.social shows how our JUST Practice Builders’ Network is designed to do exactly that.

👉 Read more: bit.ly/4sbYL0L

AI in the charity sector: ‘How organisations can be both people-powered and tech-enabled’ | The Young Foundation AI is transforming the charity sector. How can organisations use technology effectively while keeping people and communities at the centre?

💡Can charities be both people-powered and tech-enabled? It's tough, says our COO Sean Croghan, but "charities can use AI to save time, releasing people to focus on creativity, innovation, storytelling, and other things that come with human relationships”.

Read the blog > bit.ly/4dnLyym

⏰ LAST CHANCE! Applications to join our energised and ambitious Board of Trustees close at midday tomorrow. If you're passionate about social change and ready to drive a fairer future for UK communities, we would love to hear from you.
Find out more and apply 👇

Head of Business Development | The Young Foundation | CharityJob Apply now for Head of Business Development. , £60,000 - £75,000 per year, find a career with meaning today

VACANCY 💼 | Join our team! We are looking for an experienced Head of Business Development to strengthen and support income growth across our full range of our programmes and partnerships.

Learn more and apply here: bit.ly/4dQS4O0

#JobVacancy #BusinessDevelopment #CareerOpportunity #JoinOurTeam

Our CEO @parlysue.bsky.social will be speaking at #Anthropy26 next week at the Eden Project in Cornwall.

📅 25 March at 5:30pm

Speaking alongside fellow leaders on community-led sustainability

Tickets: anthropy.uk/national-gat...

@anthropyuk.bsky.social #Anthropy #Anthropy26 #UnitedFuture

A great initiative from the We're Right Here campaign for community power, showing what happens when community-led solutions are backed versus what happens when they’re blocked.

You can see the Museum of Community Futures in person in Manchester, or explore an online version 👇

Writing for our website on #InternationalWomensDay, our CEO @parlysue.bsky.social says: “Gender-based is not inevitable. Preventing it requires participation from all of us, hearing lived experience, strengthening community responses, and building coalitions for change.”
More: https://bit.ly/40erVkw

How can the UK adapt to multi-party politics? Lessons from Gorton and Denton  | The Young Foundation The Gorton and Denton by-election signals a shift towards multi-party politics in the UK. What does this mean for communities, democracy, and local government?

OPINION 💭 | How can the UK adapt to multi-party politics? Lessons from Gorton and Denton

Our CEO, @parlysue.bsky.social, and Director of Sustainability, Emily Morrison, explore 👇

https://bit.ly/4cxkT1t

🧠 We had our work featured in the @ukri.org & @theyoungfdn.bsky.social's new report on their Community Knowledge Fund.

🔗 www.youngfoundation.org/our-work/pub...

Thanks to everyone who helps make this work happen!

Community Research Networks | The Young Foundation This programme is a two-phase funding opportunity, putting community networks at the heart of research.

The @ukri.org -funded programme is supporting nine networks over five years to drive diverse, locally-led research and innovation across the UK.

Find out more: bit.ly/3NgmVc2

Great piece from Sarah Chaytor @ucl.ac.uk in @wonkhe.bsky.social, with a shout out to the brilliant Community Research Networks programme.

For everyone, by everyone | The Young Foundation Insights from the Community Knowledge Fund, an initiative supporting 24 community organisations to lead and participate in research and innovation across the UK.

🚀 Today's new report celebrates how community knowledge can enrich and strengthen the UK R&I system 💪 It shares learning from the @ukri.org-funded #CommunityKnowledgeFund - which invested £1.2m in 24 community organisations, alongside a learning and support programme.

Read more bit.ly/4b1GTPz

Senior Research Manager Samanthi Theminimulle is speaking at Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations: Mapping the current landscape, hosted with @justcentre.bsky.social, alongside Lucie Middlemiss and Matthew Paterson, sharing research on 140+ actors driving a just, joined-up climate transition.

Trustee | The Young Foundation As a driving force and pioneer in our field, we are looking for Trustees to help steer our organisation. We are interested in candidates across the UK, particularly those with experience in the private sector; public sector; digital, AI, and social innovation; and financial management and oversight.

VACANCY 💼 | Join the Board at The Young Foundation

We’re seeking new Trustees to help guide our mission to build better-connected communities and shape a fairer future.

If you're passionate about social change, have senior-level experience and sound judgement, apply now! https://bit.ly/4r2YPiN