Real change for young people begins with radical clarity — about who we are, what we stand for, and how we plan to deliver systemic impact. Youth development must be reimagined as a protected, purposeful system that prepares young people to thrive with confidence, equity, and dignity. We exist to help rebuild the structures around adolescence, shaping a future where every young person is seen, heard, and set up to succeed.

This page brings together the core strategy documents that define our mission, structure, and vision for youth development. From campaign architecture and organisational design to our values and long-term goals, these documents offer a transparent blueprint of how we work to reimagine adolescence as a protected and celebrated stage of life.

Whether you're a partner, policymaker, funder, or young person — this is your entry point into the why, how, and where of YOUTHOOD.

Introductory Overview

Think of this as our “who we are and why we exist” intro — the big picture behind YOUTHOOD’s mission. Designed for young people, partners, and anyone curious about what makes us tick, it’s a quick, powerful read that sets the scene for why adolescence needs protecting and resourcing, and what we’re doing to shift that story. If you’re new around here, this 10-minute read is the perfect place to start.

Charity Overview

Here’s the nuts, bolts, and heartbeat of how YOUTHOOD operates — think governance, strategy, operational magic, and a whole lot of youth power. Designed for funders, partners, professionals, and curious changemakers, it’s your go-to if you want to understand how we’re structured to turn big ideas into real-world impact. Expect a deeper dive — but we promise it’s packed with energy, not too much jargon.

Strategic Blueprint

This is our game plan. Whether you’re a policymaker, sector leader, or just someone who believes young people deserve better, the Blueprint unpacks how we’re building national campaigns, grassroots partnerships, and youth leadership from the ground up. It’s a detailed (but still totally digestible) document — perfect if you’re ready to dive into the "how" behind the YOUTHOOD mission.

The Case for Youth Development

This is our deep dive into why youth development isn’t just important — it’s urgent. Built by our Policy Unit, it maps out how we can reimagine systems with real frameworks, research, and practice-led thinking at the centre. It’s designed for the changemakers: youth workers, educators, researchers, policy professionals, and anyone ready to build something better. If you want to understand the philosophy behind YOUTHOOD’s work — this is where it starts.

 FAQs

  • They’re designed for anyone who cares about building a better world for young people — whether you're a youth worker, teacher, policymaker, funder, researcher, or just a changemaker in training. Some documents focus on introducing YOUTHOOD’s work, others (like The Case for Youth Development) are about influencing wider policy and practice.

  • A: Mostly, yes — The YOUTHOOD Introductory Overview, Strategic Blueprint, and Charity Overview are designed to explain who we are, how we operate, and where we’re going. They’re like a map of our mission. Only The Case for Youth Development is intended for external referencing and sector-wide use — it's our flagship piece for policy conversations, partnerships, and thought leadership.

  • Definitely — we’d love you to! The Case for Youth Development is specifically designed to be used externally - with appropriate referencing. It’s built for wider sector conversations, policymaking, and practical change. The other documents (like our Introductory Overview, Strategic Blueprint, and Charity Overview) are here to show you what YOUTHOOD is all about. If you're interested in our work and want to share what we're building, feel free to save and pass them on — just remember, they’re about us, not standalone sector guidance. When it comes to changing the system, let our Youth Empowerment & Policy Centre do the heavy lifting!

  • Absolutely — we believe transparency matters. While these documents are written in a slightly more formal tone, we're working with our Young Leaders Board to create more youth-friendly versions and toolkits to make our work even more accessible.

  • There are lots of ways! You can join our national campaigns, become a Sector Insight Provider, partner with us through the Youth Empowerment Coalition, or — if you’re a young person — apply to join our Young Leaders Board. We’re also building Adolescence in Scope, a cross-sector community for everyone passionate about reimagining how adolescence is understood and supported. (Or, just reach out — we love hearing from people who believe youth development deserves more.)