The Young Foundation
banner
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
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
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.
bit.ly
January 7, 2026 at 8:25 AM
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
‘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.
bit.ly
January 6, 2026 at 8:25 AM
BLOG🚰 | Last month's water outage in Kent left thousands without safe drinking water for 13 days.

Our Director of Sustainability and Just Transition, Emily Morrison, wrote about her experience on the ground 👇
https://bit.ly/4pgoS5a
‘The water outage in Kent shows the UK is ill-prepared for crisis’ | The Young Foundation
Our Director of Sustainability, Emily Morrison, on 13 days without a safe drinking water supply – and the need for a fall-back plan when essential services fail
bit.ly
January 5, 2026 at 8:10 AM
🌟 Happy New Year from The Young Foundation! 🌟

As we welcome 2026, we take a moment to reflect on the valuable lessons learned in 2025. Explore our reflections and insights from the past year 👇
https://bit.ly/4pUbrcg
12 things we learnt in 2025 | The Young Foundation
In this co-created article, colleagues across The Young Foundation share some key learnings and trends observed through their work over the past 12 months… 
bit.ly
January 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Explore this briefing paper, co-authored by Emily Morrison, our Director of Sustainability and Just Transition here at The Young Foundation, and Impact Lead at the JUST Centre, and Sherilyn MacGregor, Professor of Environmental Politics at @manchester.ac.uk, and Director of the JUST Centre.
POLICY | Our response to Energising Britain, the UK Government’s new public participation plan for climate and nature transition. Authors sherilynmacgregor.bsky.social and Emily Morrison theyoungfdn.bsky.social welcome the ambition but highlight three crucial gaps requiring further attention. 1/9 🧵
December 23, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Winter update: insights, impact, and a new CEO

In our latest newsletter, we’re reflecting on the year so far, while looking ahead to what’s next. Read the newsletter 👇
bit.ly/3YrS12B
News, views and co-creation through 2025
bit.ly
December 22, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The Community Advisory Panel helped shape #CiviCon25 with insight, lived experience and values-driven collaboration. Their new co-authored feature reflects on the process and the learnings shaping more inclusive civic university practice.

Read it here 👉https://bit.ly/44lgVUM
December 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Great to see our GoZero Index shared by @environmentjournal.bsky.social - find out how 'ready' your area is for the transition to net zero, and share the new tool with your MP 👇
bit.ly/4atEkYb
You can now check net zero readiness of every UK authority
A first-of-its-kind tool has been developed in the hope of drawing attention to deep-rooted spatial and social inequities between regions, helping direct policy based on local challenges and opportuni...
bit.ly
December 11, 2025 at 2:07 PM
📣 Interested in postgrad research, university funding, or community partnerships?

Join us with @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social to explore how universities can step beyond traditional roles and engage with their communities to offer inspiration and provocation.

Book here👉https://bit.ly/4oxTQWc
December 4, 2025 at 10:26 AM
NEWS🚀| Proud to announce our continued role as national partner with the #PeerActionCollective as four new teams join the project to deliver youth-led research and social action addressing violence affecting young people.

Find out more 👉 bit.ly/4pgDsdV
Award-nominated youth-driven programme welcomes new cohort | The Young Foundation
New Peer Action Collective partners to address key themes affecting young people’s safety in our communities
bit.ly
December 2, 2025 at 9:30 AM
What an evening! Together with the #PeerActionCollective, we were honoured to attend the MRS Awards as nominees for the prestigious President’s Medal award. Huge congratulations to our fellow nominees.

Read the award nominated report here 👉 bit.ly/3Y02Ubq
Sharing power, showing understanding | The Young Foundation
Insights and findings from research and social action between 2023 and 2025, addressing the root causes of violence affecting young people in England and Wales.
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Big news! 🎉 Announcing our new CEO @parlysue.bsky.social. More at bit.ly/3M1O8yn
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
What does it really take to build stronger, more connected communities?

Earlier this month, the All Together Now conference marked the official launch of @c4research.bsky.social, hosted in partnership with @localtrust.org.uk. See the highlights 👇

www.youtube.com/watch?v=REez...
All Together Now | Highlights
YouTube video by Big Local
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
REPORT 📈 | Meaningful engagement between students and local communities - five case studies of student community engagement practices across England

Read the report 👇
bit.ly/44jOpCU
Meaningful engagement between students and local communities | Institute for Community Studies
This research explores the question of what sites and practices of meaningful student community engagement look like, particularly from much-needed student and community perspectives. The report prese...
bit.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
REPORT 📈 | Purpose through data: a toolkit and resource that supports universities with equitable and accessible, data-informed decision-making 👇
bit.ly/4pjDa5r
Purpose through data | Institute for Community Studies
From 2022 to 2025, the Institute for Community Studies at The Young Foundation carried out primary and secondary research in support of the National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) programme. This inc...
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 3:08 PM
OPINION 💭 | 'We need more than new skills and social mobility for a greener future; we need fairness’

Julie McLaren asks how we can ensure the UK's skills agenda is both 'green' and genuinely fair, in Business Green 👇
bit.ly/4plEGnx
For a greener future, we need more than new skills and social mobility - we need fairness
Workforce 2030: Julie McLaren from The Young Foundation explores how the UK can ensure its skills agenda is both 'green' and genuinely fair
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🗓️In December we'll be a part of Reimagining Research, an online event hosted by @britsciassoc.bsky.social 📢

Hear from those working with communities, like the Rural Durham Community Research Network, and explore ideas of how this work can shape future research to collaboratively address challenges.
New event on 4th December: Reimagining Research
The Ideas Fund is a grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome.
bit.ly
November 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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 👇
bit.ly/3WGdsfp
A fairer future and a greener planet | The Young Foundation
Explore our work to build participation and shape a greener, fairer future.
bit.ly
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.
bit.ly
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.”
bit.ly
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.
bit.ly
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. ...
bit.ly
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