Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF)

What Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) does

Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) is a UK-registered charity (legal entity: The Young Urban Arts Foundation Limited) founded circa 2009 and headquartered in London, with a secondary operations site at Railway Arches, Burdett Road. Its mission is to empower young people aged roughly 13-25 in underserved communities by strengthening mental well-being and providing access to creative and cultural opportunities, with a focus on prevention among populations at high risk of child exploitation or victimisation. Over 16 years of operation YUAF reports supporting more than 23,000 young people across London.

The organisation's core delivery asset is the Studio Bus, a multimedia mobile workshop that travels to schools, community centres and youth hubs to deliver creative outreach sessions covering music production, content creation, and well-being. Around this mobile platform YUAF operates a portfolio of programmes: general Workshops, the Amplify Hackney Summer Tour, Pathways (training and work-experience support), YUAF Empowers (confidence and skill-building), and a Youth Ambassadors Programme that converts alumni into peer representatives. Delivery is facilitated by in-house staff and supported by partnerships with Sony Music Entertainment UK, PRS & Ditto MGMT, Timberland, Universal Music Production, Skiddle, WhyNow Radio, Big Zuu and others. The organisation holds the London Youth Gold Quality Mark certified by City & Guilds, and maintains an active press profile across Sky News, ITV News, the Evening Standard and music/creative outlets.

YUAF is funded almost entirely through donations (processed via CAF Donate), community fundraising events, and brand/corporate partnerships; it charges beneficiaries nothing for its services. Operating geography is currently limited to London with no disclosed plans for national or international expansion. Revenue, headcount (~25 employees), and audited financials are not publicly disclosed, and the organisation has no parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds in the provided material.

Name

Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF)

Legal name

The Young Urban Arts Foundation Limited

Website

https://yuaf.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UK-registered youth charity operating since 2009 that delivers creative outreach workshops and multimedia programmes to underserved London communities via its mobile Studio Bus, funded by donations and brand partnerships including Sony Music Entertainment UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Charity Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Youth charity services
• Creative workshop programmes
• Community youth outreach
• Mobile studio workshops
• Youth empowerment programmes

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: YUAF generates revenue through donations from individuals and organisations, with donations processed through CAF Donate platform. The organisation also receives funding from various partners and brand partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

YUAF is a UK-registered youth charity that delivers free creative outreach workshops to young people aged roughly 13-25 in hard-to-reach London communities, primarily through its multimedia mobile Studio Bus and facilitators placed at schools, community centres, and youth hubs. Programmes address mental well-being, self-assurance, prevention of exploitation and youth crime, and provide training and work experience pathways. Revenue is generated through donations, grants, and brand/corporate partnerships rather than fees charged to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF) operates as a unified youth charity offering a portfolio of creative enrichment programs rather than a technology platform. The core offerings include the Studio Bus (a multimedia mobile workshop facility), Workshops (delivered at schools and community centres), Amplify Hackney Summer Tour, Pathways (training and work experience support), YUAF Empowers (empowerment programming), and a Youth Ambassadors Program (youth leadership initiative). These programs work together to deliver YUAF's mission of empowering young people by strengthening well-being and building opportunities through creativity and culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Studio Bus: A multimedia bus that provides a mobile workshop space for young people, bringing creative programs to schools, community centres and youth hubs.

Products and services

• Studio Bus A multimedia bus operated by YUAF that serves as a mobile workshop space, providing communities with an exciting and safe environment where young people can engage in creative activities, with sessions focusing on mental well-being and self-assurance.
• Workshops Creative outreach workshops delivered by facilitators at schools, community centres, and youth hubs, focusing on mental well-being and self-assurance for young people in underserved areas.
• Amplify Hackney Summer Tour A summer tour programme delivering creative workshops and empowerment activities for young people in Hackney.
• Pathways Support programmes that provide young people with opportunities to gain further training or work experience, building long-term rapport and support systems.
• YUAF Empowers Empowerment programmes designed to build confidence, creativity, and skill development among young people.
• Youth Ambassadors Program A youth leadership initiative where young people who have participated in YUAF programmes become representatives, helping inspire others to pursue creative endeavours.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sony Music Entertainment UKcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYUAF has partnered with Sony Music Entertainment UK to deliver music programmes across London. This partnership has included summer programmes and the Sony Amplify initiative, helping vulnerable teens access music industry opportunities and creative skills development.
• PRS & Ditto MGMTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to deliver music programmes across London, providing access to music industry expertise and opportunities for young people.
• SkiddleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on My Sounds of LDN documentaries project, documenting London's music scenes.
• TimberlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTimberland Transform 2022 partnership, including documentary stories featuring YUAF participants such as Timi's Story and Taylor Rae's Story.
• Universal Music ProductionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on Fresh from London EP project, providing music production opportunities for young people.
• WhyNow Radio x Bella the BraveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBorn to Be Great campaign partnership supporting young people through creative projects.
• Inner City (Music Artist)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGood Life Remix Workshop partnership, where Kevin Saunderson delivered DJ/production workshops to young people.
• Give to the BeatminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFundraiser partnership including events at The Shard to support YUAF programmes.
• London YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon Youth is the membership organisation for youth charities in London. YUAF holds the Gold Quality Mark certification through London Youth's quality assurance programme.
• Big ZuuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with chef and personality Big Zuu on the Great to Be Remix project and youth tour initiatives.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: One of the UK's largest youth charities, supporting 11-30 year-olds with education, training, and employment pathways across a much broader remit than YUAF. Comparable as a UK youth-empowerment charity serving similar demographics, but at vastly greater scale and a wider programmatic scope.
• BRIT School: Free performing and creative arts school for 14-19 year-olds in Croydon, sponsored by the BRIT Trust and music industry partners. Comparable to YUAF in the creative-arts-for-youth space and underpinned by similar music-industry funding networks, but delivered as a formal school rather than community workshops.

Regional players

• Big Noise (Sistema Scotland): Scottish music-education charity delivering intensive orchestral tuition to children in disadvantaged communities. Comparable to YUAF in using music as a vehicle for youth empowerment and addressing child welfare risks, but operating in a different UK geography and a different musical genre.

Direct peers

• Awards for Young Musicians: UK charity supporting young musicians from low-income backgrounds with talent development grants and creative opportunities. Comparable to YUAF's mission of enabling creative access for under-resourced youth, though focused on individual award-making rather than workshop delivery.
• Tomorrow's Warriors: UK music-education charity supporting young Black and underrepresented musicians through training, mentorship, and performance pathways. Comparable to YUAF's youth-and-creative-arts mission with a similar focus on under-resourced communities, though specialising in jazz and Black British music.
• Roundhouse: London-based youth creative-arts charity running workshops, performance opportunities, and creative industry pathways for 11-30 year-olds. Highly comparable to YUAF in mission, target demographic, and creative-skills focus, with a longer track record and a fixed Camden venue rather than a mobile delivery model.
• Rich Mix: East London cultural charity providing creative programmes, performance space, and youth engagement. Comparable to YUAF as a London-based creative arts youth charity with similar mission around access to culture for underserved communities.
• London Music Fund: London-focused charity providing music education scholarships and progression opportunities for young musicians from low-income families. Comparable in geography (London), target demographic (youth), and music-education focus, making it a close London-music-charity peer.
• Youth Music: UK-wide charity funding music-making opportunities for children and young people facing barriers, including those in underserved areas. Directly comparable to YUAF as a music-focused youth charity, though Youth Music operates primarily as a grant-funder to other organisations rather than direct delivery.

Emerging players

• Drake Music: UK charity pioneering music, disability, and technology to open up music-making for disabled young people. Comparable in the music-education-for-underrepresented-youth space, with a distinctive accessibility-and-tech focus that intersects with YUAF's mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWuM000_0uv0jbpRiJ_a9SA
• Facebookfacebook.com/YoungUrbanArtsFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-urban-arts-foundation-yuaf
• Instagraminstagram.com/yuafofficial/?hl=en
• Xx.com/yuafofficial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Young Urban Arts Foundation (YUAF)