Young Life

What Young Life does

Young Life International is a UK & Ireland-registered Christian youth charity (company limited by guarantee, charity numbers 1090515 in England & Wales, SC043473 in Scotland, 20206014 in Ireland) operating as the regional arm of the global Young Life movement founded in 1941 in Texas by Jim Rayburn. The organization entered the UK & Ireland in 1999 and now deploys 70+ paid staff alongside 410+ volunteer leaders and community action team members across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England, serving 8,601+ young people weekly.

The core product is a portfolio of relational youth-ministry programs delivered through local church partnerships rather than through proprietary technology. The flagship "Young Life" weekly clubs target school years 7-13 (ages 11-18), supplemented by WyldLife for younger teens (P7-Year 9), YoungLives for expectant and parenting teenagers, Capernaum for young people with additional needs, and Young Life Uni for higher-education students in Belfast and (as of May 2025) Maynooth. Residential and day experiences — including the Cairn Brae summer camps in Scotland, BASH Day Camp in Hatfield, and the Night to Shine inclusive prom — operate as signature engagement events. Underlying technology is minimal: regional WordPress-style microsites under ylinternational.org subdomains and a centralized donation platform at give.ylinternational.org powered by third-party vendor People's Fundraising (Golden Giving Limited), with no public APIs or proprietary software.

The revenue model is donation-led for the operating organization, with Gift Aid adding approximately 25% for UK taxpayers, supplemented by modest camp and event participation fees (Young Life camp £525 per person, WyldLife camp £450, BASH Day Camp £40, ICW conference up to £100) that are partially offset by bursaries and fundraising subsidies. Delivery relies on a volunteer labor model in which trained adult leaders build relationships with young people in their own neighborhoods, supported by local adult committees that provide prayer, promotion, governance, and financial oversight. Programs are launched through invitations from local churches — including Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal, and other denominations — making inter-denominational church partnership the primary go-to-market channel.

Name

Young Life

Legal name

Young Life International (company limited by guarantee)

Website

https://ylinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Young Life International is a UK & Ireland Christian youth charity delivering volunteer-led relational ministry, weekly clubs, camps, and targeted programs (WyldLife, YoungLives, Capernaum, Young Life Uni) to young people aged 11-18 through local church and school partnerships across five jurisdictions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Ministry Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth ministry programs
• Christian youth outreach
• Teen mentoring services
• Summer youth camps
• Community youth engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Young Life relies on the generosity of individuals in local communities. Donors can give one-time or recurring donations via the give.ylinternational.org platform, supporting local areas, national services, or specific campaigns (e.g., Capernaum Northern Ireland, YoungLives Tayside). Gift Aid reclaim is available for UK taxpayers, adding 25% value at no extra cost.
2. Volunteer Leadership: Volunteer leaders (mums, dads, university students, working professionals, retirees) give their time to work directly with young people. While not a revenue stream, volunteers enable the delivery of ministry programs without salary cost.
3. Camp Fees: Young Life charges camp fees to cover costs of summer residential programs. Cairn Brae camp costs £525 for Young Life (school years 10-13) and £450 for Wyld Life (school years 7-9). BASH Day Camp costs £40 per person. Bursaries are available. Fees are partially subsidized through fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Young Life is a Christian youth ministry that runs weekly clubs, Bible study groups (Campaigners), summer residential camps, and service projects for teenagers aged 11-18 across the UK & Ireland. It operates specialized sub-programs including YoungLives for expectant and parenting teens, Capernaum for youth with additional needs, WyldLife for younger teens, and Young Life Uni for university students, all delivered through trained volunteer adult leaders and church partnerships.

Product overview

Young Life International is a global Christian youth ministry organization operating in over 100 countries, reaching over 2 million young people. In the UK and Ireland, the organization offers a portfolio of youth ministry programs anchored by the core Young Life clubs for teenagers aged 11-18, supplemented by specialized sub-brands including YoungLives (for expectant and parenting teenagers), Capernaum (for young people with additional needs), and WyldLife (for younger teenagers). Additional programs include Young Life Uni (university ministry), volunteer leader opportunities, local adult committees, community action teams, and various camp experiences including Cairn Brae summer camp, BASH Day Camp, and YoungLives camp. The organization also operates a digital fundraising platform for donations and campaign management. Programs are delivered through local area offices in partnership with churches and schools across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YoungLives: Young Life's youth work specifically designed for Expectant and Parenting Teenagers
• Young Life Uni
• Capernaum
• WyldLife

Products and services

• Young Life (Core Youth Clubs) Weekly youth clubs for teenagers aged 14-18 (school years 10-13) run in partnership with local churches, featuring games, activities, friendship-building, and opportunities to explore faith in Jesus. The primary ministry program delivered across all Young Life areas in the UK & Ireland.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2 million young people reached globally by Young Life staff and leaders.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whitehouse Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Young Life Capernaum launched its second Northern Ireland location in North Belfast in December 2024 in partnership with Whitehouse Presbyterian. The partnership includes a Capernaum club and a parents ministry/coffee morning.
• Kings Church SouthamptoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Joe Buckely joined the Young Life Southampton team in 2024 in partnership with Kings Church to develop ministry in the Lordshill area of the city. Joe is enrolled in the Developing Global Leader (DGL) programme while studying Theology and Youth Work at university.
• First Comber Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Young Life began work in Comber in September 2022 in partnership with First Comber Presbyterian Church. The church provides the venue and community base for local youth ministry.
• Vibe Church (Armagh)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Young Life Armagh began in 2022 through conversations between Young Life and Vibe Church. Vibe Church serves as the founding church partner for youth ministry in Armagh, with expansion to other community projects underway.
• Ballykeel Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Young Life Ballymena began in 2021 after invitation from Ballykeel Presbyterian Church and Slemish Integrated College to work with young people in the town.
• Slemish Integrated CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Slemish Integrated College partnered with Ballykeel Presbyterian Church to invite Young Life to work with young people in Ballymena. Young Life maintains a presence in the school alongside expanded community partnerships.
• Tim Tebow FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsors Night to Shine, a global prom event for young people with additional needs. Young Life Capernaum Northern Ireland is one of over 800 Night to Shine events worldwide, demonstrating the partnership's scale and the significance of this signature inclusive event.
• Granshaw Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019The first UK Capernaum club began in Bangor in December 2019 and moved to Granshaw Presbyterian Church where it now operates as a thriving club with around 20 teenagers attending every other week. The church serves as the primary venue and community anchor.
• Lighthouse International Church (Southampton)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Lighthouse International Church is the primary partner in the St Mary's/Newtown area of Southampton. Area Director Riyah Curtis has a particular heart for the South East Asian community and partners with this church to reach that demographic.
• First Holywood Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Young Life International in Holywood began in 2015 after being invited by First Holywood Presbyterian Church to work with young people in the town. The partnership expanded to include other churches in the town.
• Ascension TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoung Life International is working on the 60:40 Project in Brixton with Ascension Trust, London City Mission, and Lambeth Methodist Circuit. Ascension Trust leads the initiative while YLI joins in, building and leading a team of staff and volunteers throughout Brixton.
• London City MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the 60:40 Project in Brixton alongside Ascension Trust and Lambeth Methodist Circuit. London City Mission brings established community relationships and mission infrastructure to the collaboration.
• Lambeth Methodist CircuitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner in the 60:40 Project in Brixton. Lambeth Methodist Circuit provides local church infrastructure, venue access, and community credibility for youth outreach in Lambeth.
• People's Fundraising (Golden Giving Limited)coreTechnology or IntegrationYoung Life's donation and fundraising platform (give.ylinternational.org) is powered by People's Fundraising (trading name of Golden Giving Limited, registered at 85 Great Portland Street, London). The platform handles donations, Gift Aid reclamation, fundraising pages, events, and team fundraising.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves23 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Youth for Christ: Youth for Christ is a UK-wide evangelical Christian youth ministry with very similar mission, methodology, and target audience (11-18 year olds). Both organizations deliver relational youth outreach through trained volunteers, church partnerships, and school-based contact work, and both run residential camps.
• Scripture Union: Scripture Union is a longstanding Christian charity working with children and young people across the UK and Ireland, with a comparable model combining school-based work, volunteer-led groups, and residential holidays. Both share an evangelical ethos and a focus on biblical engagement with young people.
• Boys' Brigade: Boys' Brigade is a Christian uniformed youth organization with deep UK and Ireland roots, operating through local church-based groups with trained volunteer leaders. It shares Young Life's church-anchored, volunteer-driven delivery model and faith-based character development focus.
• Child Evangelism Fellowship: Child Evangelism Fellowship is an evangelical Christian children's and youth ministry working through Good News Clubs and outreach programs in the UK. It is highly comparable to Young Life's relational, church-partnered youth outreach methodology, though oriented to slightly younger age groups.
• Fusion: Fusion is a UK Christian charity that works with students and young adults through universities and schools, with a model and target demographic (university students) that directly overlaps with Young Life Uni at Queen's Belfast, Ulster, and Maynooth.

Broad incumbents

• The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is a large, established Christian charity operating across the UK and Ireland with youth and family programs alongside broader social services. It overlaps with Young Life in mission ethos and youth work but operates as a much larger incumbent with a wider service portfolio.

Emerging players

• Soul Survivor: Soul Survivor is a UK Christian organization focused on youth and student events, conferences, and church partnerships. It shares Young Life's evangelical youth-engagement approach and volunteer-driven model but is more event-led than weekly club-led.

Others

• Tim Tebow Foundation: The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsors Night to Shine — Young Life Capernaum's flagship inclusive prom event. The two organizations are not competitors but partners, with the Tim Tebow Foundation providing global event infrastructure for one of Young Life's signature programs.
• London City Mission: London City Mission is a partner (not competitor) of Young Life International through the Brixton 60:40 Project alongside Ascension Trust and Lambeth Methodist Circuit. It is a London-focused Christian outreach organization with overlapping geographic and demographic scope.
• The Scout Association: The Scout Association is the UK's largest uniformed youth organization, operating locally-delivered weekly programs for 11-18 year olds through trained volunteer leaders. It is comparable to Young Life in delivery model and target age range but is secular and operates at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/younglifelondon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Young Life