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theyoungfdn.bsky.social
The Young Foundation
@theyoungfdn.bsky.social
The UK's home for community research and social innovation. Also powering the Institute for Community Studies.

www.youngfoundation.org

Also on X and Threads
Our Senior Innovation Practitioner, Gary Fawdrey is currently on 'safari' in Scotland, touring Moray to meet local people, to better understand the issues they face and explore potential research opportunities that matter to them.⛰️💡
November 12, 2025 at 3:18 PM
We're working with the @ukri.org funded #CommunityResearchNetworks supporting them to engage their local communities across the UK to drive research and innovation in their areas.🔍
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
🌍 Will COP, hosted in Brazil this year, see bold commitments that drive a just transition to net zero? People and communities must be at the heart of climate action, so no one is left behind on the journey to a sustainable future.

See our recent research and thinking in this space 👇
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A fairer future and a greener planet | The Young Foundation
Explore our work to build participation and shape a greener, fairer future.
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November 11, 2025 at 9:24 AM
WORKSHOP 💻 | Help shape a dashboard supporting universities to take a more data-driven approach to creating positive civic impact

Join us for the final user-testing workshop: bit.ly/4nFQlwd
Civic Impact Dashboard user-testing workshop | The Young Foundation
Help shape a dashboard supporting universities to take a more data-driven approach to creating positive civic impact.
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November 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
🧑‍🎓 Join the last Introduction to peer research training of the year!

There are still a few spots left for this highly practical and engaging online training on Wednesday 19 November.

Find out more: bit.ly/4qHTQVQ
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.”
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November 4, 2025 at 11:13 AM
A fantastic report recently shared at CiviCon by Jack Layton and Al Mathers highlighting the power of university green spaces to be realised as focal points for mental health and wellbeing and community cohesion. 🌳

Find out more 👉 http://bit.ly/3Lf8XWw
Civic universities and green spaces: mapping report | Institute for Community Studies
This research maps university green space in relation to underlying mental health and wellbeing data, and explores the potential to scale the methodological approach.
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October 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Is your neighbourhood benefitting from net zero? Share our interactive map with your MP to deliver change on your doorstep

The GoZero Index provides vital insight into how national and regional policy can better reflect local realities.
bit.ly/47fzgV9
Is your neighbourhood benefitting from net zero? Share new map with your MP to deliver real change
The GoZero Index – designed by The Young Foundation – is a new, interactive tool that maps how ready different places across England are for the transition to a fair and equitable net zero future. ...
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October 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM
NEWS 🗺️ | GoZero Index launches – a groundbreaking new tool mapping how ready places across England are for the transition to a fair, green future.

Explore your area 👇
https://bit.ly/4qpfUo5
October 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
OPINION 💭 | Houses ≠ communities. 🚧 New housing without social infrastructure is leaving people isolated. It’s time to invest in public joy – not just buildings. Our Place Research and Impact Manager Dr Jack Layton writes for Estates Gazette 👇
http://bit.ly/4ho4HzT
Buildings alone won’t solve the housing crisis; we need to invest in public joy
COMMENT Institute for Community Studies’ Jack Layton on social infrastructure
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October 24, 2025 at 10:35 AM
As the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill makes its way through Parliament, @right-here.org is calling for a deeper form of devolution that gives communities more power and rights to create real change – from the ground up.

Watch and share the new campaign film 👇
Our new film argues that community power is the antidote to division and democratic decline.

Give communities the power to fix broken Britain from the ground up.

🎥 Watch and share.

Read the story behind the film: www.right-here.org/community-po...

Film by @tuz0.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
📢 At today's AVM Conference, our Research Director Siân Whyte notes the changing nature of volunteering and increased appetite for new models of community power. "Our strategy is about the power of participation and welcoming a new social contract.”
bit.ly/4enrWJa
The Power of Participation: our vision 2024-28 | The Young Foundation
Embracing the spirit of our founder, Michael Young, our five-year strategy, The Power of Participation, shares our vision to redesign the social contract between people, communities, state and business and shape a fairer, greener future.
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October 16, 2025 at 9:51 AM
EVENT 🌍 | Building practice for a JUST future

Last chance to register to join us next week to discover opportunities for participation in the new Centre for Joined Up Sustainability Transformations (JUST) 👇
https://bit.ly/3JN1UDV
Building practice for a JUST future | The Young Foundation
In this online session, we will activate the power of participation to tackle social, political and environmental challenges, mobilising communities of practice to create a just, sustainable future.
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October 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Today, The @britishacademy.bsky.social and Nuffield Foundation's Understanding Communities programme publishes its final report.

Launched in 2022, this programme has worked to inform policy and practice on how communities can improve social wellbeing across the UK 👇
bit.ly/4nZy1Pi
Understanding Communities Fund | Nuffield Foundation
A collaboration from the British Academy and the Nuffield Foundation to identify practical solutions to increase the cohesion and resilience of local communities in the UK.
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October 2, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by The Young Foundation
🧵 1/3 🚨 Interested in building a just, sustainable future? Join the @manchester.ac.uk @justcentre.bsky.social & @theyoungfdn.bsky.social webinar on Oct 7! 🌍✨
Explore the new Practice-Builders Network mobilising changemakers across sectors.
🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-p...
Building practice for a JUST future
Activate the power of participation to tackle social, political and environmental challenges.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
🚀 EVENT | Hive Minds: Exploring Participatory Research

Join us on Tuesday 4 November in Belfast with RF Associates for a collaborative session exploring the power of a participatory approach in research.

🔗Find out more and register your interest here: bit.ly/42jtter
Hive Minds: Exploring participatory research | The Young Foundation
Develop knowledge, and connect with others interested in participatory research. Hosted by RFA in partnership with The Young Foundation.
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October 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
WE'RE HIRING!

Are you a Senior Researcher with strong quantitative, statistical and data analysis skills? We're looking for a dynamic team-player to join our busy and friendly team.

Find out more and apply 👇
bit.ly/42ij0zV
LinkedIn
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September 30, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Brilliant to see Leonie Taylor, Siân Whyte and Laetitia Lucy share insights in @thetcpa.bsky.social's latest journal, reflecting on why community participation must be at the heart of development - and setting out key factors for success.

More 👇
bit.ly/42hADzI
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September 30, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Reposted by The Young Foundation
The New Towns Taskforce has revealed that Thamesmead is one of 12 recommended New Town sites.
In this community-led planning edition of Town & Country Planning journal, colleagues from @theyoungfdn.bsky.social discuss how Thamesmead residents are shaping development.
www.tcpa.org.uk/sample-journ...
September 29, 2025 at 10:41 AM
We cannot make changes about young people, without them and this report from the Peer Action Collective highlights the value of youth voice! 💪

Explore key findings and learnings from two years of work across multiple PAC teams here: bit.ly/47ZK8Hs
September 25, 2025 at 10:50 AM
📢Our webinar is live! Opening today’s event, our Senior Research Manager Phil Mullen introduced our new report from the #PeerActionCollective programme, working with young people across England and Wales to tackle violence affecting young people. 🧵
September 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
REPORT LAUNCH 📢|A call to tackle violence affecting young people, with young people

Published with @youthendowmentfund.org.uk @coopukreal.bsky.social and #iWill (@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk, @dcmsgovuk.bsky.social) are key findings from research with over 5,100 young people!

Read here👉 bit.ly/47ZK8Hs
More than 5,100 UK teenagers contribute to programme tackling violence affecting young people | The Young Foundation
Survey finds young people feeling unsafe, as youth-led programme develops meaningful proposals for change
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September 24, 2025 at 2:45 PM
IMPACT STORY 📈 | Tackling inequality through physical activity in Cornwall

Explore the impact of our partnership with Active Cornwall, developing a 10-year plan to increase residents’ physical activity, underpinned by evidence and guided by the experiences of local people.

More: bit.ly/46p6EqO
Tackling inequality through physical activity in Cornwall | The Young Foundation
Explore the impact of our partnership with Active Cornwall, developing a 10-year plan to increase residents’ physical activity, underpinned by evidence and guided by local people’s experiences.
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September 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
CASE STUDY 🥁 | From African drumming to library sessions: how Hackney’s creative approach is getting communities fit for the future

Jem Hai shares one council's success increasing health, happiness, and physical activity among residents.

@hackneycouncil.bsky.social
bit.ly/4pzgZsY
From African drumming to library sessions: getting communities fit for the future
Physical activity does not exist in a vacuum. Often when we think about ‘getting active', we may imagine sports and planned exercise. Lacing up our trainers and,...
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September 23, 2025 at 9:21 AM
REPORT LAUNCH 🚀 Today, we publish two reports with @hackneycouncil.bsky.social @sportengland.bsky.social and others, sharing community-driven change in East London. Over eight years, this collaboration worked to reduce local inequalities linked to health and inactivity. Read more at bit.ly/4nDE8IP
September 19, 2025 at 8:17 AM
EVENT 🌍 | Building practice for a JUST future

Join us to discover opportunities for participation in the new @justcentre.bsky.social - for those in policy or practice who are committed to justice and change.
bit.ly/3JN1UDV
Building practice for a JUST future | The Young Foundation
In this online session, we will activate the power of participation to tackle social, political and environmental challenges, mobilising communities of practice to create a just, sustainable future.
bit.ly
September 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM