SMASH Youth Project

What SMASH Youth Project does

SMASH Youth Project, now operating as Young Swindon and Wiltshire following a December 2025 rebrand, is a registered UK charity (no. 1107900) founded in 1999/2000 and headquartered at The Base youth centre in Swindon. The charity delivers relationship-based youth mentoring and trauma-informed support to children and young people aged 9-25 across Swindon and Wiltshire through four program verticals: Communities (youth clubs, detached youth work, The Base centre, Swindon Youth Voice Group), Education (EBSNA school non-attendance programs, Transitions peer mentoring, 1-to-1 Wellbeing Mentoring, Alternative Provision), Enterprise (Solid Ground Coffee social enterprise, Empower and Engage, Care System Transition support), and Health (Salisbury Hospital NHS youth mentoring). It also delivers MHFA England registered and KCA-authorized trauma-informed training to professionals.

The organization's underlying "technology" is its trauma-informed mentoring methodology, built on the 5 to Thrive and Mending Hurts models, applied across a multi-channel delivery footprint that includes schools, hospitals, youth centres, community settings, home visits, and a social-enterprise coffee van and cafe. Service delivery is human-led by a team of approximately 16-20 staff including specialized roles for education, communities, health, enterprise, safeguarding, and finance, supported by a Board of Trustees with child-protection and charity-sector backgrounds.

Revenue is generated through a diversified charity income mix: individual donations (monthly £5/£20/£50 tiers and one-time gifts with Gift Aid), community fundraising via JustGiving, corporate and foundation grants (Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Community Foundation, Masonic Charitable Foundation, Community First, People's Postcode Lottery, CCLA), and a small earned-revenue stream from the Solid Ground Coffee social enterprise. Services are provided free of charge to young people. The organization holds a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and was a 2025 CYPN Awards finalist.

Name

SMASH Youth Project

Legal name

Young Swindon and Wiltshire

Website

https://smashyouthproject.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMASH Youth Project (now Young Swindon and Wiltshire) is a registered UK charity delivering trauma-informed youth mentoring, education support, NHS hospital youth work, and a social-enterprise coffee business to children and young people aged 9-25 across Swindon and Wiltshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Youth mentoring services
• Youth support programs
• Community youth work
• Mental health training
• Social enterprise training

Headquarters

HQ city

Swindon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly or one-time donations from individuals, with suggested amounts of £5, £20, £50
2. Fundraising Events: Community fundraising activities including marathons, distance challenges, and special occasion fundraisers through JustGiving platform
3. Corporate Partnerships: Support from local and national organizations including Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Community Foundation, Masonic Charitable Foundation, Community First, and People's Postcode Lottery
4. Social Enterprise (Solid Ground Coffee): Revenue from Solid Ground Coffee van and cafe operations, reinvested into youth programs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Young Swindon and Wiltshire (formerly SMASH Youth Project) is a UK registered charity that delivers free, trauma-informed youth mentoring and support services to children and young people aged 9–25 across Swindon and Wiltshire. Programmes include one-to-one and group mentoring, education re-engagement support (EBSNA, Transitions, 1-to-1 Wellbeing Mentoring, Alternative Provision), NHS hospital-based youth mentoring, community youth work and youth centres, a social enterprise coffee business (Solid Ground) providing paid employment training, advocacy (Swindon Youth Voice Group), and MHFA England-registered Mental Health First Aid Youth and Trauma-Informed Champions training for professionals.

Product overview

Young Swindon and Wiltshire (formerly SMASH Youth Project) is a youth charity offering a portfolio of interconnected community-based programmes focused on mentoring, education, health, and enterprise. The core offering is youth mentoring services (1-to-1 and group), which underpins programmes across four main areas: Communities (youth clubs, detached youth work, The Base youth centre, Swindon Youth Voice Group), Education (EBSNA mentoring, Transitions peer mentoring, 1-to-1 Wellbeing Mentoring, Alternative Provision), Enterprise (Solid Ground Coffee social enterprise including cafe and van, Empower and Engage, Care System Transition support), and Health (Salisbury Hospital Youth Mentoring). The organisation also provides professional training services (MHFA Youth and Trauma-Informed Champions) to other practitioners working with children and young people. The programmes are trauma-informed, relationship-based, and designed to help young people access support, amplify their voice, and reach their potential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Mentoring Services One-to-one and group mentoring programmes pairing children and young people aged 9-25 with trusted professional adult mentors, providing personalised support, guidance, and encouragement for personal development and wellbeing. Free at point of use, delivered in homes, schools, community settings, and youth centres across Swindon and Wiltshire.
• Education Programmes (EBSNA, Transitions, 1-to-1 Wellbeing Mentoring, Alternative Provision) School-based mentoring and alternative provision for children and young people aged 9-16: EBSNA addresses emotionally-based school non-attendance; Transitions uses Year 10 peer mentors for Year 6s moving to secondary school; 1-to-1 Wellbeing Mentoring builds resilience and confidence; Alternative Provision delivers vocational experiences from The Base youth centre.
• Youth Work and Community Programmes Youth clubs, pop-up sport and craft sessions, and detached youth work for young people aged 10-17 across Swindon and Wiltshire, creating spaces to connect with safe adults, try new activities, build confidence, and make community connections. Includes the Swindon Youth Voice Group (ages 11-18) advocacy programme.
• The Base Youth Centre A youth centre in Park North, Swindon offering a safe inclusive space for youth clubs, Alternative Provision, the HAF programme, and access to support services. Located at The Base, Lyndhurst Crescent, Swindon, SN3 2RW.
• Solid Ground Coffee Social Enterprise A social business providing young people with adverse life experiences paid employment opportunities to learn customer service, barista, health and safety, food hygiene, and money handling skills in an industry-standard working environment. Operates the Solid Ground Van outside Swindon Children's Services Team (Tues/Wed 10:30-14:30) and the Solid Ground Cafe at Swindon Central Library (Tue-Fri 10:00-16:00).
• Empower and Engage One-to-one mentoring programme for female Year 11 students on reduced timetables, helping develop essential skills, explore career options, and adapt to college demands.
• Transitioning out of Care System Support Long-term tailored mentoring for young people aged 17-25 transitioning out of the care system in Wiltshire and Swindon, helping navigate barriers into work and everyday life. Delivered in partnership with CCLA and Wiltshire Community Foundation.
• Salisbury Hospital Youth Mentoring NHS youth mentoring for young people aged 11-25 living in Wiltshire who are regularly admitted to hospital, using a relationship-based approach to encourage community access and health wellbeing control.
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Youth Training A 2-day MHFA England registered course for adults working with young people aged 8-18, providing foundational understanding of young people's mental health and skills to recognise signs and offer support. Delivered in-person and online subject to availability.
• Trauma-Informed Champions Training A 1-day programme based on KCA (Knowledge Change Action) training, providing knowledge and expertise to become a trauma-informed champion, breaking down barriers with young people who have experienced past trauma. Informed by the 5 to Thrive and Mending Hurts model.

Quantifiable outcome

• Young people report increased confidence and improved relationships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Swindon Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner providing funding and commissioning youth work services across Swindon. The Solid Ground Van is located outside Swindon Children's Services Team offices.
• Community FirstsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner supporting youth work initiatives.
• Prime TheatresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative arts partner for Swindon Youth Voice Group, using creative expertise to shape campaigns and activities.
• Voluntary Action SwindonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal infrastructure organization partner for Swindon Youth Voice Group.
• MindsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health charity partner for Swindon Youth Voice Group.
• Youth Voice SwindonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth voice organization partnered for Swindon Youth Voice Group initiative.
• MHFA EnglandcoreTechnology or IntegrationMental Health First Aid England - organization provides MHFA England registered training courses for professionals working with young people.
• KCA (Knowledge Change Action)coreTechnology or IntegrationTraining provider for Trauma-Informed Champions training, providing 5 to Thrive and Mending Hurts model training.
• Police and Crime CommissionersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for youth support services; mentioned as source of referrals and data sharing.
• NHScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHS youth mentoring program at Salisbury Hospital supporting young people aged 11-25 regularly admitted to hospital.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Kids Inspire: Essex-based regional charity supporting young people affected by trauma, abuse, or mental health challenges - structurally similar small regional youth charity delivering therapeutic mentoring.

Direct peers

• The Mix: UK charity providing mental health and wellbeing support to under-25s - directly comparable target demographic and emotional wellbeing focus.
• Place2Be: UK children's mental health charity providing school-based counselling and emotional support - overlaps directly with YSW's school-based wellbeing mentoring and EBSNA programmes.
• Catch22: National social business delivering youth mentoring, alternative provision, and education programmes for disadvantaged young people - directly comparable in service mix and target demographic to Young Swindon and Wiltshire.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting young people aged 16-25 facing homelessness, including care leavers - overlaps with YSW's Care System Transition programme for young people exiting care.
• Leap Confronting Conflict: Youth charity delivering mentoring and conflict-resolution training for young people and the professionals who work with them - parallels YSW's professional training offer and youth work focus.
• Chance UK: London-based charity providing one-to-one mentoring for children aged 5-13 facing disadvantage - directly comparable 1:1 mentoring model for vulnerable young people.

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: UK's largest youth charity, supporting 11-30 year-olds through education, employment, and enterprise programmes - a much larger incumbent operating in adjacent service areas including social enterprise and mentoring.
• Barnardo's: Largest UK children's charity, providing fostering, mental health, and youth services nationally - a broad incumbent competing for similar council contracts and foundation grants.

Others

• NSPCC:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-smash-youth-project

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 SMASH Youth Project