Trusts and foundations

Working together to empower young people

Many trusts and foundations share our goal of helping young people take their place in a democratic society as active citizens. We are enormously grateful for the support we’ve received from them for either specific programmes or for the charity as a whole.

Their financial help has been and is still vital in keeping our programmes going, particularly as we will be tackling further themed issues facing young people and schools from 2020 onwards. But the support also often includes sharing knowledge and expertise, and ideas – and this partnership approach is something that we value.

Now, more than ever, we need the help of trusts and foundations

  • The need for our work has never been greater: ensuring young people have the skills to shape and navigate a complex world, increased disadvantage through the impact of Covid-19 on communities and deficiencies in our education system which means many are denied the opportunities to learn about being active citizens without our specific support
  • Before 2010, more than 60% of our income came from government grants. Today, the figure is almost zero as the government has increasingly reduced spending on charitable programming
  • Philanthropy through trusts and foundations helps give our charity a stable base to continue our growth and keep our work free or heavily subsidised to reach the young people who need it the most

How you can support us

Young Citizens is amplifying its strategic response to support schools and young people in the space of citizenship, belonging, participation and democracy – from our formal systems to personal social action.

If your trust or foundation is looking for an ambitious change partner we would be interested in discussing our forthcoming work with you. Please get in touch with our Partnerships Manager, Kirsty Robertson, for an exploratory conversation.

And finally, thank you to our existing and recent funders and partners.