The Young Foundation

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

Reinventing democracy: partnerships, participation and power | The Young Foundation Trust in political systems is declining, but democracy must evolve. Our new CEO, Dr Sue Griffiths, asks: What needs to change in the UK now?

🎉 A huge welcome to our new CEO @parlysue.bsky.social 🎉

As she joins us, Sue imagines how the UK can reinvent democracy by nurturing partnerships, participation and community power. ‘As Michael Young’s legacy makes clear; times of crisis are also times of innovation’ 👏

Read more > bit.ly/4b1vNtS

Local Power Plan will fail unless we share power, not just infrastructure The Government recently set out its Local Power Plan, marking a genuine step-change in the ambition around our energy resilience and the local benefits that could...

OPINION 💡 | If the Local Power Plan is to succeed it demands genuine power-sharing with communities

Emily Morrison, our Director of Sustainability and Just Transition, explores how we might realise this bold ambition 👇
https://www.themj.co.uk/local-power-plan-fail-unless-share-power-infrastructure

🗺️ WEBINAR | Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations: Mapping the current landscape

Join us on 4th March 1-2pm to explore the findings of our forthcoming evidence review of 140 actors and initiatives driving JUST climate action across the North of England and beyond.

🎟️ Register: bit.ly/4r9D81w

Evidence of young people’s experiences of work in the UK | The Young Foundation A synthesis of work exploring young people’s experiences of work, education and training.

REPORT 📕 | Evidence of young people’s experiences of work in the UK

This evidence review pulls together findings from various research,
evaluation and insight reports that look at young people’s experiences
of work, education and training. Read the report 👇
https://bit.ly/4aOnbYK

Introduction to peer research course | The Young Foundation This online course is for organisations wishing to develop their peer research project management skills in-house. A previous participant said: “I learnt a lot and feel inspired.”

💥Join our upcoming online Introduction to peer research training!

Are you currently working with peer researchers, or wish to in the future? Gain practical skills with opportunities to connect, share and learn in a small group.

📅 Thursday 26 February
Secure your place 👉 https://bit.ly/4kuYcwM

How can communities contribute to local, place-based research in ways that are meaningful and rewarding for all? Our Senior Researcher, Leonie Taylor, is sharing experiences and insights from some of our recent programmes at this morning's fully booked Local Trust seminar. Recording to follow!

Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations: Mapping the current landscape | The Young Foundation Join us and the JUST Centre to explore the actions contributing to joined-up sustainability transformations (JUST) in the North of England and beyond.

WEBINAR 🌍 | Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations: Mapping the current landscape

Join us, alongside the @justcentre.bsky.social to explore the findings of a forthcoming evidence review, looking at over 140 actors and initiatives driving JUST climate action👇
bit.ly/4rxQswb

Thanks for resharing - really pleased you found it an interesting read.

‘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.

BLOG 🖋️ | Is community collaboration the antidote to social division?

Reflecting on recent polling, our Senior Researcher, Leonie Taylor, says with shared power and collective problem-solving, Britain’s best days are yet to come. More 👇
https://bit.ly/4bqjLfv

BLOG 🖋️ | The shape of 2026 rests on relationships and trust

Our colleagues share their thoughts on key trends, emerging tensions, and opportunities for 2026 - and reflect on what they mean for communities, policy, and social change 👇
https://bit.ly/4k45WFM

NEWSLETTER 📰 | 2025 made clear how rapidly social, economic, and political conditions are shifting. This year, the question for us is not whether this pace of change will continue, but who shapes the response and how. Explore our first newsletter of 2026👇
https://bit.ly/4ahCatX

The stakes for democracy are high and the challenges of local governance remain By any measure, 2026 has got off to a turbulent start. As dramatic events unfold internationally, there is deepening debate on the future of the ‘rules-based...

OPINION 💭 | Rebuilding democracy starts with confidence in local politicians

Our Chair, Kersten England CBE, writing for The MJ, says collaboration and reciprocity between communities and local governance is vital to deliver positive, lasting change.

More: https://bit.ly/4r6B0HX

Preparedness over inaction: Defra’s ‘climate ruin’ report and UK communities Sociopolitical turmoil. War. Mass movement of people. Resource shortages. Following a government report on global biodiversity collapse as a national security threat, we consider what this really mean...

Defra's 'climate ruin' report on biodiversity collapse shows nature depletion is a national security risk.

So what about the real world implications for British communities?

@theyoungfdn.bsky.social

#climate #biodiversity #security

environmentjournal.online/headlines/pr...

Emily Morrison, our Director of Sustainability and Just Transition, writes in @environmentjournal.bsky.social on why nature recovery, climate adaptation and community resilience must be tackled together.

#NatureRecovery #ClimateAdaptation #CommunityResilience

Proud to support the @right-here.org campaign. Read the new blueprint exploring how we can unlock community power 👇

Deadline approaching! We're looking for a motivated HR Manager to join our friendly team for a maternity cover role. Details at the link below👇

Our Interim Co-Director of Research Sian frames the day asking "where do we create the space to learn, grow, create together? How could we defend what doctoral training can be? In the sector, there are tensions, but also opportunities to reimagine and redefine what's possible in different roles". 🎉

Moving to London to study, PhD student Rebecca said "it can be a very difficult place to build a community". Starting research with a relationship, rather than a question, is transformational, she believes, "giving space for reflection and growth".

Lizzy Scott-Bauman opened the day saying: "Undisciplined Spaces is a cornerstone of how King's wants to work in the world." 🎉 "Research can be quite solitary. That comes with satisfaction and motivation, but can be quite isolating. This programme has built a community, and that's been invaluable."

🚀Off we go! Delighted to be @coinstreet.bsky.social hosting Redefining Roles with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social. The conference shares our collaborative, AHRC-funded Undisciplined Spaces programme to explore postgraduate capacity for community engagement 👏👏

Community involvement in place-based research | The Young Foundation Join this online seminar bringing together researchers and practitioners to discuss fair, meaningful, and rewarding community participation in place-based research.

SEMINAR 💭 | Collaboration, trust, and community participation in place-based research

Join us to explore how to involve communities in place-based research effectively. Register 👇
https://bit.ly/4aPumAs

Human Resources Manager (maternity cover) | The Young Foundation We are looking for an experienced HR professional to lead and run the HR function at both a strategic and operational level, providing expert guidance and leadership across the organisation.

JOB ALERT 🚀 | The Young Foundation is hiring a Human Resources Manager (maternity cover). If you're an HR leader with a passion for our mission of building better-connected communities and shaping a fairer future, find out more and apply by 26 January! 👇

https://bit.ly/4stxZSM

‘New shift in retrofit policy could create extraordinary and avoidable risk’ | The Young Foundation Our senior researcher Leonie Taylor worries a shift in retrofit policy recently announced by the Chancellor could undermine trust and impact vulnerable households.

BLOG 🏘️ | ‘New shift in retrofit policy could create extraordinary and avoidable risk’

Our senior researcher, Leonie Taylor, raises critical concerns about the decision to end the ECO4 scheme in March, putting millions of vulnerable households at risk. More 👇
https://bit.ly/4jkzw9T