Futureworks NY

What Futureworks NY does

Futureworks NY is a registered charity (Charity Number 1203922) based at 40 Victoria Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, that provides alternative education, youth development, and adult support services to vulnerable and disengaged individuals in Scarborough and the wider North Yorkshire region. Founded in 2012 by Michelle Padron-Kitching and Sarah Thornton initially as a Community Interest Company and converted to full charity status in July 2023, it operates a portfolio of programmes including School Age Learners, Youth Development (ages 15–18), the Rise2Thrive adult learner programme (serving economically inactive adults in North Yorkshire and York), a furniture restoration Workshop, Study Works (paid tutoring for City & Guilds Functional Skills), an in-house Exam Centre, and a Home Education programme. The organisation has supported over 2,000 individuals since inception (as of January 2026) and currently serves 100+ young people and adults annually in classes capped at eight for personalised attention.

The organisation runs two physical sites — the headquarters and learning space at Victoria Road (refurbished in 2024 with Clothworkers' Foundation support) and the Furniture Works retail showroom at 39 St Thomas Street — and uses no proprietary technology platform; its stack is limited to Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Mapbox, and Vimeo for content delivery and basic e-commerce. Revenue is generated almost entirely through restricted charitable grants from BBC Children in Need, the National Lottery Community Fund, Clothworkers' Foundation, Hargreaves Foundation, Woodsmith Foundation, Williams Family Fund, Cash for Kids, and Trailblazer Community Grants, supplemented by Furniture Works retail sales, donations, corporate sponsorship, and small fee-based services (Study Works tutoring at £15–£30/hour, exam centre fees at £125 per City & Guilds exam). The organisation has a stated goal of raising £50,000 in unrestricted 'freedom funding' by May 2025 and increasing learner numbers by 40% by its 15th anniversary in 2027.

Go-to-market is community-led: learner intake is driven by referrals from schools, social services, and local organisations via a formal online referral form, supplemented by word-of-mouth, local media coverage, and a 2023 BBC Children in Need television appeal. The organisation employs ten staff and engages six volunteers under three trustees, with no parent company, institutional investors, or external ownership. There are no disclosed M&A activities, technology acquisitions, or AI/ML capabilities in the available data.

Name

Futureworks NY

Legal name

Futureworks NY

Website

https://futureworksny.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Futureworks NY is a Scarborough-based registered charity providing alternative education, youth development, and adult learner support to vulnerable and disengaged individuals across North Yorkshire, funded primarily through restricted grants and its Furniture Works retail subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Education and Youth Support Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Career Transition Noncredit Programs (EDAAAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Alternative education services
• Youth support programmes
• Functional skills training
• Community charity services
• Adult employability support

Headquarters

HQ city

Scarborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Funding: Futureworks NY operates primarily through grant funding from organizations such as BBC Children in Need, National Lottery Community Fund, Clothworkers' Foundation, Hargreaves Foundation, Woodsmith Foundation, Williams Family Fund, Cash for Kids, and Trailblazer Community Grants. This funding is largely restricted to specific programs.
2. Furniture Works Retail Sales: Sales from the Furniture Works retail unit at 39 St Thomas Street, Scarborough, selling upcycled, pre-loved, and restored furniture. Proceeds are ploughed back into Futureworks NY operations.
3. Exam Centre Fees: City & Guilds functional skills exam registration, invigilation, and certification at £125 per exam.
4. Study Works Tutoring: Paid tutoring service for functional skills Maths and English: £30 per hour one-to-one or £15 per hour per person for group sessions (max 6 students). Prices include full package of learning and exam fees.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Individual and corporate donations, fundraising events (skydives, charity walks, etc.), and corporate sponsorship. The organization is pursuing 'freedom funding' to reduce reliance on restricted grants.
6. Corporate Sponsorship: Bespoke sponsorship packages for businesses, with visibility across website, social media, and events. Examples include window sponsorship at £330-£850 per window.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Futureworks NY is a registered charity that delivers personalised support, guidance and alternative education for vulnerable and disengaged young people and economically inactive adults in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. It provides accredited City & Guilds Functional Skills qualifications in Maths and English (up to Level 2), practical workshop skills in furniture repair and upcycling, and one-to-one key-worker support to help learners progress toward employment, college or apprenticeships. Services are delivered in person at the 40 Victoria Road centre, with a retail arm (Furniture Works) at 39 St Thomas Street generating supplementary income and providing customer-service experience for learners.

Product overview

Futureworks NY is a registered charity providing a portfolio of interconnected support services for vulnerable individuals. The core offering includes personalised guidance and alternative education programmes (Youth Development, School Age Learners, Adult Learners/Rise2Thrive, and Home Education). These services integrate with supporting modules: Workshop (furniture restoration skills training), Study Works (private tutoring), and Exam Centre (City & Guilds certification). The subsidiary brand Furniture Works serves as both a retail revenue stream and practical training environment where learners gain customer service and furniture upcycling experience. The organisation operates from Victoria Road, Scarborough, with the Furniture Works retail unit at 39 St Thomas Street.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Development Support programme for young people aged 15 and over with a designated key worker, functional skills in Maths and English, personal development activities, and tailored one-to-one sessions aimed at building confidence, social skills and qualifications for those not in employment, education or training.
• School Age Learners Programme Alternative education service for Year 10 and 11 students who are not fully attending mainstream school or who have elected home education, offering bespoke learning packages, Functional Maths and English qualifications, active learning approaches and confidence building.
• Adult Learners / Rise2Thrive Programme Tailored 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and employability support programme for economically inactive adults in North Yorkshire and York with barriers to employment or training, including specific interventions to break down those barriers.
• Study Works Tutoring Paid one-to-one (£30/hour) and group (£15 per person/hour, max six students) tutoring service for City & Guilds Functional Skills Maths and English qualifications, available to Year 10+ students and adults who have failed GCSEs or cannot access them through other routes.
• Exam Centre City & Guilds registered exam centre at the Victoria Road headquarters offering Functional Skills English and Maths exams at £125 per exam, covering registration, invigilation and certification.
• Workshop Skills Programme Practical workshop sessions where clients learn furniture repair and upcycling skills using tools, including women-focused 10-week blocks, helping learners develop practical skills, build confidence and friendships while reducing furniture waste.
• Home Education Programme Fully funded alternative education programme for Years 10 and 11 students who have elected home education, including functional skills, confidence building, social skills assistance and holistic support, funded via UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
• Basic Cooking Skills Programme Programme teaching basic cooking skills to clients to build confidence, independence and everyday life skills, supported by Trailblazer Community Grants.
• Furniture Works Retail Outlet Retail unit selling pre-loved, upcycled and restored furniture and interiors; run by learners who gain customer-service experience while sales proceeds support Futureworks NY operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,200 individuals helped since 2012; 2,000+ as of January 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• Peace of Mind Financial ServicessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Named Futureworks NY as their Charity of the Year 2026. Raised £1,000 at their Awards Evening. Based in Falsgrave Road, Scarborough.
• Better ConnectcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic partner for delivery of Rise2Thrive adult support programme and cooking skills programme. Works alongside Futureworks to deliver services within Scarborough community.
• Travis PerkinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated materials for renovations to learning spaces.
• BoyesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated materials for renovations to learning spaces.
• JewsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated materials for renovations to learning spaces.
• Crown Decorating Centres ScarboroughsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered for over 10 years, saving damaged tins and paint returns from going to landfill to help bring new life to old furniture through recycling projects.
• Scalby FairsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSelected Futureworks NY as one of their nominated charities. Annual Scalby Fair and charity walk raise funds for the organization. Scalby Charity Walk in its 65th year.
• Scarborough Window CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWilling to supply 12 windows needed for headquarters (ranging £330-£850 per window) as part of visible local sponsorship opportunity.
• East Coast Window DoctorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWilling to supply 12 windows needed for headquarters (ranging £330-£850 per window) as part of visible local sponsorship opportunity.
• New Tavern Football TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated two heaters for the Loft classroom space from their Tote money, keeping learners warm and productive.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Shaw Trust: Large UK charity providing employment, skills, and inclusion services for disabled and disadvantaged people. Comparable to Futureworks NY's Rise2Thrive adult employability work but operating at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Groundwork: UK federation of charities delivering community regeneration, environmental, and youth programmes with local delivery partners. Comparable to Futureworks NY in the community-led, locally-rooted model serving disadvantaged learners.
• Hft: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities through personalised services and supported living. Comparable to Futureworks NY in serving learners with autism and learning disabilities via tailored, small-group support models.
• Centrepoint: UK charity supporting homeless and vulnerable young people with housing, education, and employment programmes. Comparable to Futureworks NY in targeting disengaged youth and providing qualifications plus life-skills pathways to independence.
• Mencap: UK's leading charity for people with learning disabilities, providing direct support, advocacy, and education services. Comparable to Futureworks NY in its learner demographic (autistic learners, learning difficulties) and emphasis on personalised support.
• Action for Children: Major UK charity supporting vulnerable children and families through services including alternative education and youth programmes. Comparable in mission scope and beneficiary focus but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• The Children's Society: Major UK charity supporting disadvantaged children and young people through direct services and advocacy. Comparable in its focus on vulnerable young people, but operates at national scale across broader issue areas.

Direct peers

• The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth charity providing education, training, and employment support to 11–30 year olds, with a strong focus on NEET young people. Highly comparable to Futureworks NY's Youth Development programme in target population, alternative education approach, and pathway outcomes (employment, apprenticeships, further education).
• YMCA England & Wales: Federation of community-based charities providing youth services, education, accommodation, and employment support. Directly comparable to Futureworks NY in combining community-rooted delivery with skills training and life-skills development for vulnerable young people.
• Catch22: UK social business delivering alternative education, social inclusion, and employability programmes for disadvantaged young people and adults. Closely mirrors Futureworks NY's holistic model combining personal development, functional skills, and employment-readiness support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fwnyscarboro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/futureworks-ny
• Xx.com/FutureworksNY

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Futureworks NY