What Patchwork Foundation does

The Patchwork Foundation is a UK-registered charity (Charity No: 1177576) founded in 2012 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in 2013, with charitable status granted in 2018. It promotes active participation of young people aged 18-30 from disadvantaged and minority communities in British democracy. Its programmes comprise a ten-month Masterclass Programme (sessions with senior political figures), the #GetInvolved grassroots campaigning programme, the Party Conference Programme (delegate access to Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, SNP and Green conferences), paid internship placements (Conservative Party Summer Internship, Labour Party Summer Internship, and the Flint Global Internship at London Living Wage), the annual MP of the Year Awards held at Speakers House, an Events series, the Alumni Network with Alumni Leadership Council, and the Patchwork Access Bursary for means-tested financial support. The Foundation is explicitly non-partisan and works with all major UK political parties simultaneously. Operations are supported by a five-person core staff (CEO, Operations Officer, Head of Programmes, Programmes Manager, Programmes Officer) and a board of high-profile Trustees including Permanent Secretaries, Big 4 partners, and senior corporate executives.

The organisation has no proprietary technology platform; its only digital tooling is the OneHive (Tutorhive) learning management system used for participant sign-in to the Patchworker Hub. Applications, donations, and event bookings are processed through standard website forms, with donations routed through the CAF Online platform. Distribution is entirely direct via patchworkfoundation.org.uk, with national UK reach spanning Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and all English regions.

The revenue model is donor-funded rather than commercial: corporate sponsorships (KPMG, Hogan Lovells, Flint Global, Norton Rose Fulbright, Canary Wharf Group, Valesco, South Street), grants from grant-giving charities, individual donations, and in-kind venue and legal support. All programmes are free for participants, with means-tested bursaries covering travel and accommodation. Scale to date includes 30,000+ event attendees, 4,000+ #GetInvolved participants, 180+ party conference delegates, 60+ internship alumni now embedded in political parties, Parliament, and the Civil Service, and a single 2018 Gala Dinner that raised over £250,000.

Name

Patchwork Foundation

Legal name

The Patchwork Foundation

Website

https://patchworkfoundation.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Patchwork Foundation is a UK charity that runs free, non-partisan political engagement programmes — Masterclass, internships, party conference delegations, and the MP of the Year Awards — for 18-30 year-olds from disadvantaged and minority communities, supported by corporate patrons including KPMG, Hogan Lovells, and Flint Global.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate sponsorships and donations: The Patchwork Foundation is funded by a combination of grant-giving charities, corporate sponsorships, and donations. Corporate patrons (KPMG, Hogan Lovells, Flint Global, Valesco, South Street, and others) provide financial support. The organisation states that 100% of funds provided directly support the development of young people and help remove barriers to access.
2. Individual donations: Individual donations are accepted through the website via CAF Online donation platform. Donors are encouraged to support the Foundation's mission to strengthen democracy by improving participation of underrepresented young people.
3. Venue space and in-kind support: The Foundation receives in-kind support including venue space for events and masterclasses, with partners such as Canary Wharf Group hosting the annual Gala Dinner, and legal support from Hogan Lovells. This reduces operational costs and enables programme delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Patchwork Foundation is a UK charity that delivers free civic engagement and political leadership programmes to young people aged 18-30 from disadvantaged and minority communities. Its core offerings include the Masterclass Programme (10-month curriculum with senior political figures), the #GetInvolved Programme (canvassing, hustings, and grassroots campaigning), the Party Conference Programme (delegate access at major UK party conferences), paid internship placements with the Conservative Party, Labour Party, and Flint Global, and the annual MP of the Year Awards ceremony at Speakers House. All programmes are free for participants, with means-tested bursaries covering travel and accommodation.

Product overview

The Patchwork Foundation is a UK-based charity that offers a portfolio of civic engagement programmes focused on promoting active participation of young people from disadvantaged and minority communities in British democracy and civil society. The core offering consists of the Masterclass Programme (a ten-month series of sessions with senior political figures), the #GetInvolved Programme (grassroots political campaigning and canvassing), the Party Conference Programme (delegate access to major UK party conferences), Internship Programmes (placements with political parties and Flint Global), and the annual MP of the Year Awards ceremony. Additional offerings include Events, the Alumni Network, and the Patchwork Access Bursary (means-tested financial support). The programmes are free for participants and designed to remove barriers to political engagement for underrepresented communities aged 18-30.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterclass Programme A ten-month programme delivering sessions with senior political figures in British civil society, allowing participants aged 18-30 from underrepresented communities to ask questions about personal development and politics. Participants must attend 6 Masterclasses and 5 Skills Sessions, with discussions conducted under Chatham House rule. From 2026, approximately 8 Masterclasses are held throughout the year at a central London location. Free for successful applicants.
• #GetInvolved Programme A programme enabling under-represented communities to engage with mainstream politics through canvassing sessions, hustings, party conferences, and campaigning activities across the UK. Participants learn the basics of politics from canvassing to campaigning with real hands-on experience. Over 4,000 young people have engaged with this programme since 2014.
• Party Conference Programme A programme providing delegates aged 18-30 with bespoke experiences at major UK party conferences, including free tickets, roundtable discussions with senior party officials, and access to fringe events and leader's speeches. Conferences include Liberal Democrats (Bournemouth), Labour (Liverpool), Conservative (Birmingham), SNP (various), and Green Party (Brighton). Bursary support is available for travel and accommodation.
• Conservative Party Summer Internship A six-week paid summer internship programme delivered in partnership with the Conservative Party (CCHQ). Interns work across multiple Headquarters party teams including Research & Policy, Digital & Communications, and Press & Executive Office. Designed for young people from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Labour Party Summer Internship A six-week paid summer internship programme run in partnership with the Labour Party, designed for individuals aged 18+ from ethnic minorities or lower socio-economic backgrounds. Successful candidates are supported with travel and accommodation costs. Placements are available across digital, external relations, governance & legal, communications, membership, policy, commercial, and elections & delivery departments.
• Flint Global Internship Programme An 8-12 week paid internship at Flint Global's London office, running from July, offered exclusively to current 2026 Masterclass Programme participants and alumni from 2024-2025 cohorts. Interns work in one of Flint's practice areas with clients across sectors including digital, tech, utilities, health, and financial services. Paid at London Living Wage.
• MP of the Year Awards Annual awards ceremony at Speakers House in the Palace of Westminster celebrating MPs who proactively engage and champion underrepresented communities. Categories include Labour MP of the Year, Conservative MP of the Year, Other MP of the Year, Overall MP of the Year, Young People's MP of the Year, Newcomer MP of the Year, and Politician of the Year. Open for public nominations.
• Events Programme Powerful and inspirational events with leading speakers from the world of politics, facilitating key politicians including Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet members to meet and address members of disadvantaged and minority communities. Events have been held at venues including 10 Downing Street, Canary Wharf, and Speakers House.
• Alumni Network A network providing Patchwork graduates with a space to sustain relationships and exchange opportunities and advice regarding personal and career development. Includes the Alumni Leadership Council for youth-led governance contributions to the Foundation's strategic direction.
• Patchwork Access Bursary A dedicated, means-tested fund providing practical support to programme participants who need financial assistance to participate. Made possible through personal funding by Sir Simon Fraser GCMG, the bursary covers travel and accommodation costs for those who would otherwise be unable to participate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of participants considered the conference programme actively reduced barriers for them to engage with politics and politicians
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Flint GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlint Global is a Corporate Patron and has been a partner of the Patchwork Masterclass Programme since 2018. Sir Simon Fraser, Managing Partner at Flint Global, is a founding Trustee and Patron of Patchwork. Flint Global offers paid internships (8-12 weeks, London Living Wage) exclusively for Patchworkers from the 2024-2026 Masterclass cohorts. Kiran Horwich, Partner at Flint Global, serves as a Trustee.
• Conservative Party (CCHQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Conservative Party collaborates with Patchwork Foundation on a six-week paid summer internship programme. CCHQ hosts Patchwork interns in departments including Research & Policy, Digital & Communications, and Press & Executive Office. The Party Conference Programme also includes Conservative Party Conference attendance.
• Labour PartycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Labour Party runs a six-week paid summer diversity internship in partnership with Patchwork Foundation, designed for individuals from ethnic minorities or lower socio-economic backgrounds. Patchwork interns work across multiple Labour Party departments. The Party Conference Programme includes Labour Party Conference attendance.
• Liberal DemocratsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Liberal Democrats participate in the Party Conference Programme, hosting Patchwork delegates at their annual conference. Roundtable sessions are organised with Liberal Democrat MPs and figures including Munira Wilson MP, Wera Hobhouse MP, and party leader Sir Ed Davey.
• Scottish National Party (SNP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SNP participates in the Party Conference Programme. Ian Blackford MP (former Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons) has served as a Masterclass tutor and expressed support for the Foundation's work.
• Green PartyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Green Party participates in the Party Conference Programme. Caroline Lucas MP has supported the #GetInvolved programme as a Masterclass tutor.
• Naz Legacy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Naz Legacy Foundation is a key strategic partner. Patchwork Foundation originated as a project of the Naz Legacy Foundation. Saeresh Iqbal, Director of the Naz Legacy Foundation, serves on the MP of the Year Judging Panel. Former Naz Legacy Foundation CEO Sajidah Patel is now CEO of Patchwork Foundation.
• The Guardian FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEsmat Jeraj, Director of Programmes at The Guardian Foundation, serves as a Trustee of the Patchwork Foundation.
• Mosaic (Prince's Trust mentoring initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMosaic, the mentoring initiative founded by His Majesty King Charles III (then The Prince of Wales), is a historical partner. Jonathan Freeman, who later became CEO of Mosaic, is now Chair of Trustees at Patchwork Foundation.
• Prince's TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShabir Randeree CBE, Chairman of the DCD Group and Council Member of The Prince's Trust, chaired the Advisory Group that helped establish Patchwork Foundation in 2012. The Prince's Trust and Patchwork share a focus on supporting disadvantaged young people.
• Civil ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe UK Civil Service supports Patchwork Foundation as a supporter. Alumni and staff networks within the Civil Service have been established, including the Patchwork Civil Service Network (CSN) chaired by alumnus Michael Woodland.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• UpRising: UpRising runs a UK leadership programme for young people aged 18-25 from underrepresented backgrounds. It is the closest direct peer, overlapping on target demographic, age range, civic-leadership curriculum and non-partisan framing.
• Citizens UK: Citizens UK is a community-organising alliance that develops civic leadership among underrepresented communities in the UK. It was part of Patchwork's founding Advisory Group and operates in the same civic-engagement and community-empowerment space.
• Mosaic: Mosaic is a Prince's Trust mentoring initiative founded by King Charles III to support young people from disadvantaged communities. Patchwork's incoming Chair was formerly Managing Director of Mosaic, and Patchwork has run joint programming with Mosaic, indicating closely aligned youth-empowerment missions.
• Bite The Ballot: Bite The Ballot is a UK non-partisan organisation focused on youth voter registration and democratic participation, particularly among underrepresented demographics. It is comparable to Patchwork's #GetInvolved programme in mission and target audience.
• Operation Black Vote: Operation Black Vote works to increase Black and minority ethnic political participation in the UK through voter registration, leadership programmes and political-party engagement. Patchwork's founding Advisory Group explicitly included Operation Black Vote, and the organisations share an underrepresented-youth political-engagement mission.
• 3 Faiths Forum: The 3 Faiths Forum promotes interfaith dialogue and civic engagement across religious communities in the UK. Patchwork's founding Advisory Group included 3 Faiths Forum, and both organisations address social cohesion and civic participation among underrepresented UK communities.

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: The Prince's Trust is a large, established UK youth-focused charity supporting disadvantaged young people into education, employment and training. Patchwork has historically partnered with the Trust, and the two share a beneficiary demographic, but The Prince's Trust operates at materially greater scale across broader youth-development programming.
• UK Youth: UK Youth is a national umbrella body supporting youth organisations and young people across the UK. It is comparable to Patchwork through shared youth-development and civic-participation themes, but operates at a broader sector-coordination level rather than direct civic-political engagement.

Emerging players

• Naz Legacy Foundation: The Naz Legacy Foundation is the parent project from which Patchwork Foundation originated and shares staff (including the current Patchwork CEO). It remains a strategic partner with overlapping mission focus on Muslim-community civic engagement in the UK.
• The Runnymede Trust: The Runnymede Trust is a UK independent race-equality think tank producing research and policy work on ethnic minority issues. It overlaps with Patchwork on underrepresented-community advocacy but operates primarily as a research/policy body rather than a direct civic-participation programme provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UKPatchwork
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCz8
• Facebookfacebook.com/patchworkfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ukpatchwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/ukpatchwork

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Patchwork Foundation