Youth Leads UK

What Youth Leads UK does

Youth Leads UK is a youth-led registered charity (Charity Number 1155789) founded in 2011 by Saeed Atcha MBE DL at age 15 and formally incorporated in 2014, headquartered at Blue, Media City UK, Salford. The organisation supports young people aged 14 to 25 who are disadvantaged or furthest from opportunity, delivering skills, leadership, and social-action programmes; its core offering is a 12-week Leadership Programme combining employability skills workshops with Industry Insight sessions and youth-led social action projects. Adjacent programmes include the Civic Leadership Programme (developed with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority), the Care Experience Leadership Programme, and digital content via Youth Leads Magazine (the rebranded Xplode Magazine, reaching 55,000+ readers annually across print and digital). Governance combines a Board of Trustees (Co-Chairs Chloe Bennett and Adam Toorawa), a Youth Advisory Board of 13+ young people, and a Strategic Advisory Council of 9+ senior leaders from business, education, healthcare, and civic sectors.

The technology footprint is modest and conventional: a WordPress-based website, social media presence on Instagram and TikTok, an email newsletter, podcast and documentary content under development, and digitally distributed (PDF) plus printed magazines. There is no disclosed proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability.

As a non-profit, Youth Leads UK operates on a grant, donation, and commissioned-service revenue model. All programmes are delivered free of charge to young people; the charity is funded through grants, philanthropic donations, and commissioned programme delivery from public-sector partners including NHS Trusts, GMCA, Bolton Council, and secondary schools across Greater Manchester. The organisation has no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or commercial revenue streams. Notable recognitions include the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (2024), Living Wage Employer accreditation, and Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter Supporter status.

Name

Youth Leads UK

Legal name

Youth Leads UK

Website

https://youthleads.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Youth Leads UK is a youth-led registered charity based in Salford that delivers 12-week leadership programmes, civic engagement initiatives, and a youth magazine to disadvantaged young people aged 14 to 25 across Greater Manchester and the North of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), 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

Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth leadership programmes
• Youth skill development
• Social action projects
• Youth voice advocacy
• Charity youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Salford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable funding and grants: As a registered charity (Number: 1155789), Youth Leads UK operates primarily through funding from grants, donations, and potentially government/LA commissions for programme delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Youth Leads UK is a youth-led charity that delivers 12-week leadership programmes, social action projects, and the Youth Leads Magazine for young people aged 14-25 who are furthest from opportunity. The organisation combines employability skills workshops, industry insight sessions, and civic engagement content, partnering with schools, NHS trusts, councils, and employers across Greater Manchester.

Product overview

Youth Leads UK operates as a youth-led charity offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes and platforms. The core offering includes a 12-week Leadership Programme that combines skills development workshops with Industry Insight sessions and social action projects. Supporting this are the Youth Leads Magazine (formerly Xplode), a publication platform reaching 55,000+ readers, and the Youth Advisory Board which ensures programmes remain youth-led. The Strategic Advisory Council provides governance oversight while the Civic Leadership Programme, delivered in partnership with GMCA, extends reach into civic engagement. All offerings centre on empowering young people to build skills, create change, and shape decisions affecting their lives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership Programme
• Civic Leadership Programme
• Youth Leads Magazine
• Industry Insight Speaker Hub

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RSM UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRSM UK partnership for industry insight sessions giving young people exposure to accounting and consulting careers. Regional Managing Partner Kevin Duffy leads sessions and workplace visits, providing career pathway guidance and real industry insight.
• Beyond Corporate Law GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal law firm partnership providing industry insight sessions into legal sector careers. Young people visited headquarters for interactive networking and career pathway sessions with legal professionals.
• Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth voice in recruitment processes and mental health awareness. Young advisers shaped recruitment of mental health professionals and created youth-led newsletter for GMMH services.
• NHS Trusts (Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with multiple NHS Trusts to deliver social media training for youth participation staff. Equipped NHS professionals with skills to create digital content amplifying youth voice in CAMHS services.
• Bolton CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to address cost of living crisis affecting vulnerable young people. Young people led social media campaigns and created awareness content reaching tens of thousands.
• Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Greater Manchester Youth Civic Leadership Programme. Jointly developed civic engagement resource pack 'Empowering Young Citizens: The Future is Now!' with Mayor Andy Burnham.
• Big ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Big Education Conversations across UK, culminating in Project Council of young people influencing education policy and publishing policy report 'Out of Kilter'.
• Imperial War Museum NorthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth focus group partnership to support development of museum's first youth collective. Young people provided input on youth-led programming ideas.
• Commando Joe'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Development Manager Jamie Dunning delivered industry insight session on first impressions and networking skills.
• Plantfood CoachingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder Katie Kendall delivered financial literacy workshop 'Financial Superpower' focusing on budgeting, saving, and abundance mindset.
• Tales to InspireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Industry Insight session with Stacey Copeland, former athlete and broadcaster, exploring resilience and non-linear career pathways.
• KPMG ManchesterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkplace visit for Leadership Programme participants to learn about accounting and finance careers from Jo Meehan, Associate Director.
• Planisware UK & IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Kai Ojo serves on Strategic Advisory Council, providing senior-level guidance on organisational growth and technology sector insights.
• Wise Owl TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Sophie Murfin serves on Strategic Advisory Council. Wise Owl Trust leads family of five primary schools with character-led curriculum.
• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf Janet Lord serves on Strategic Advisory Council as Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Health and Education. CEO Saeed Atcha serves as Board Member.
• Manchester NHS Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChief Nursing Officer Kimberley Salmon-Jamieson serves on Strategic Advisory Council, providing healthcare leadership expertise.
• Greater Manchester PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuperintendent Richard McNamara serves on Strategic Advisory Council, bringing community engagement and safety expertise.
• PeninsulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployment Services Director Kate Palmer serves on Strategic Advisory Council, providing HR and employment law expertise.
• LNT Care DevelopmentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOO Kristian Horabin (formerly Managing Director at ASDA) serves on Strategic Advisory Council, providing commercial and people development expertise.
• PilotlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supported through Pilotlight programme where senior executives provide strategic guidance. Kristian Horabin became involved through this programme.
• Bolton at HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-Executive Director position for CEO Saeed Atcha, focusing on community and social justice in housing sector. Partner organisation in cost of living consultations.
• GenerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Saeed Atcha serves as Trustee, focusing on youth-focused charity work and employment.
• Education & EmployersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Saeed Atcha serves as Trustee, supporting youth career inspiration and employer connections.
• Migrant LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Saeed Atcha serves as Trustee, supporting young migrants with leadership development.
• Inspiring LeadersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Saeed Atcha serves as Chair, leading youth leadership organisation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UK Youth: National membership body and charity supporting a network of youth organisations across the UK, focused on youth work, employability and personal development for young people aged 10-30. Highly comparable mission (young people, skills, leadership, voice) with a more infrastructure/grant-giving model than Youth Leads UK's direct delivery.
• The Diana Award: National charity supporting young people aged 9-25 to develop skills, change their communities and lead social action through mentoring, anti-bullying and recognition programmes. Direct functional overlap in youth leadership, social action and youth voice amplification.
• Speakers for Schools: UK charity giving state school students free access to inspiring speakers and workplace experiences from leading professionals. Highly comparable to Youth Leads UK's Industry Insight Speaker Hub model in connecting young people with employer-led career exposure.
• Generation UK: UK arm of the global Generation programme, training and placing 18-29 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds into careers through employer partnerships. Directly comparable target beneficiary segment and similar model of combining skills training with employer-led career exposure, which mirrors Youth Leads UK's Industry Insight sessions.
• vInspired (now part of NCVO): Formerly a dedicated youth volunteering charity supporting 14-25 year olds into social action and volunteering opportunities, now integrated into NCVO. Highly comparable target age range and social action focus to Youth Leads UK's programmes.

Broad incumbents

• National Youth Agency (NYA): The national body for youth work in England, providing training, qualifications, policy advocacy and resources for youth workers. Overlaps with Youth Leads UK on workforce development, youth voice policy work and youth sector convening, but operates primarily as an infrastructure/policy body rather than direct programme delivery.
• The Prince's Trust: The UK's largest youth charity, delivering enterprise, education and employability programmes for disadvantaged 11-30 year olds. Operates a much larger national footprint than Youth Leads UK and competes for the same grant, corporate and government funding pools, but its scale and broad scope make it a broad incumbent rather than a direct niche peer.
• National Citizen Service (NCS) Trust: Government-backed youth programme for 16-17 year olds delivering personal development, social action and employability through residential and local activities. Operates at national scale with public funding, overlapping significantly with Youth Leads UK's mission and beneficiary profile.

Emerging players

• Street League: UK charity using sport to engage disadvantaged young people aged 14-24 and support them into education, training and employment. Comparable outcomes model and beneficiary focus, partially overlapping with Youth Leads UK's youth leadership and employability objectives.
• Inspiring Leaders: UK youth leadership organisation where Youth Leads UK's CEO Saeed Atcha serves as Chair. Operates leadership development programmes for young people, making it a thematically comparable peer with overlapping governance ties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/YouthLeadsUK

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Youth Leads UK