Youth Options
Youth Options is a Hampshire-based registered charity delivering youth centres, prevention, targeted support, family support, progression and outdoor learning programmes for children and young people aged 7–18 across Southampton, Winchester and New Forest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersEastleigh, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Youth Options does
Youth Options is a Hampshire-based registered charity (Charity No: 1056463) operating across Southampton, Winchester, New Forest and Eastleigh in southern England. Its mission is to engage, develop and empower children and young people — primarily those aged 7–18 at risk of exclusion — through trusted relationships, trained youth workers and accessible activities in safe spaces. The portfolio of services spans youth centre drop-in sessions, prevention and early-intervention work, one-on-one and group targeted support, family support, progression/career-focused experiences, nature-based outdoor learning, plus preschool provision (The Scott Centre Pre-School and Little Owls Woodland Pre-School) and Mansel Park Pavilion venue hire. Outreach extends beyond centres via the Street Reach detached youth work model, and an annual Youth Survey led by Youth Ambassadors is used to gather young people's views and feed them into local policy and service design.
The organisation is funded primarily through grants, donations, fundraising events and corporate support, with National Lottery Community Fund grants (including a three-year award in 2026 for the Lordshill partnership) representing a significant income source alongside smaller earned-income streams from preschool fees and venue hire. Distribution is community-led: services are delivered in physical centres (MP3 Youth Centre, The Garage, Lordshill Youth Project, Unit 12), at family homes, in detached/outreach settings in the community, and via outdoor learning venues. Marketing combines email newsletter, an active presence across Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, website content, and earned media coverage of funding and fundraising milestones.
The business model is that of a multi-site UK youth charity rather than a technology venture: no proprietary software, app, API or AI capability is in evidence, and core services are free at the point of use to children and families. Operational risk is therefore typical for the sector — grant renewal concentration, volunteer and frontline-staff reliance, and dependence on local-authority and community partnerships — rather than technology execution risk.
Youth Options firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Youth Options
- Legal name
- Youth Options
- Website
- https://youthoptions.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Youth Options is a Hampshire-based registered charity delivering youth centres, prevention, targeted support, family support, progression and outdoor learning programmes for children and young people aged 7–18 across Southampton, Winchester and New Forest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Youth Options industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth and Community Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)
Keywords
Where Youth Options is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eastleigh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Youth Options business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: The charity relies on public donations, fundraising events, and charitable contributions to fund its youth programmes and services.
- Venue Hire: Mansel Park Pavilion and other venues are available for community hires, business meetings, and parties, generating rental income.
- Corporate Support: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships provide funding and in-kind support for youth programmes.
- Grant Funding: Receives funding from organisations such as the National Lottery Community Fund for specific programmes and partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Youth Options product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Youth Options is a children and youth charity that engages, develops and empowers young people aged 7-18+ through youth centre drop-in sessions, prevention and early-intervention services, targeted one-on-one and group support, family support, career-focused progression opportunities and nature-based outdoor learning across Southampton, Winchester and the New Forest. It also operates preschools, holiday clubs/childcare and Mansel Park Pavilion venue hire, and runs the Youth Ambassador Programme and annual Youth Survey funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Product overview
Youth Options is a children and youth charity offering a portfolio of services focused on engaging, developing and empowering young people. The core services include Youth Centres providing drop-in sessions, Prevention Services for early intervention, Targeted Support with one-on-one and group sessions, Family Support for whole-family assistance, Progression Opportunities for career development, and Outdoor Learning using nature-based activities. Additional offerings include Childcare/Holiday Clubs, Preschools, and venue hire through Mansel Park Pavilion. The organization also runs research initiatives including the annual Youth Survey and Youth Ambassador Programme, both funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Youth Ambassador Programme: Programme funded by National Lottery Community Fund where young people design and conduct the annual Youth Survey to shape organizational work and influence local policies.
Products and services
- Youth Centres Drop-in youth sessions providing safe spaces for children and young people aged 7-18+ across Southampton, Winchester and the New Forest to meet friends, access support, learn skills and participate in activities.
- Prevention Services Early intervention services supporting children and young people at risk of exclusion to overcome challenges and reduce negative outcomes.
- Targeted Support Tailored one-on-one and group sessions providing meaningful support focused on achieving positive outcomes that empower young people.
- Family Support Support services working with families to strengthen relationships, improve wellbeing and ensure young people have support at home and in their community.
- Progression Opportunities Career-focused experiences helping young people gain skills, connect with employers and take ownership of their futures.
- Outdoor Learning Nature-based activities engaging young people in learning, supporting mental wellbeing and developing essential social and emotional skills.
- Childcare (Holiday Clubs) Holiday clubs and childcare services for families.
- Preschools Pre-school services including The Scott Centre Pre-School in Andover and Little Owls Woodland Pre-School at Itchen Valley Country Park, Southampton.
- Mansel Park Pavilion Venue Hire Light and airy venue for hire offering flexible spaces for community hires, business meetings and parties. Located in Millbrook, Southampton with wheelchair accessibility.
- Street Reach (Detached Youth Work) Detached youth work that meets young people in community settings to build relationships, provide early intervention and connect them with opportunities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Two weekly centre-based youth sessions plus two weekly Street Reach detached youth work sessions and ongoing Family Support delivered in Lordshill
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Youth Options
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Youth Options technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Youth Options partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Lordshill Youth Project (LYP)corePartnership with The Lordshill Youth Project to provide youth work in and around the Lordshill area through weekly youth clubs and Street Reach detached youth work sessions. The partnership creates safe, positive spaces for young people to connect, grow and thrive.
- Littlebigbox LimitedminorLittlebigbox Limited provides website design, build and SEO services for Youth Options.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Youth Options competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Family Action: UK charity delivering family support, mental wellbeing services and children's centre programmes for disadvantaged families. Directly comparable to Youth Options' Family Support and Targeted Support offerings, with overlapping beneficiary cohort.
- Catch22: UK social business delivering prevention, targeted support and alternative provision for children and young people at risk of exclusion. Closest peer in mission and service mix to Youth Options, though operating nationally and at significantly larger scale.
- Centrepoint: National UK charity supporting young people (16-24) facing homelessness and exclusion through outreach, supported housing and progression services. Comparable to Youth Options on at-risk youth focus, though its primary mission centres on housing rather than community youth work.
- Groundwork UK: Federated UK charity network using outdoor, environmental and community-based activity to support young people and disadvantaged groups. Direct overlap with Youth Options' Outdoor Learning and progression model, though broader in environmental mission.
Broad incumbents
- Action for Children: Major UK children's charity delivering fostering, family support, disability and youth services nationally. Comparable to Youth Options on children's services breadth, but operates with national infrastructure and statutory contracts at much larger scale.
- The Prince's Trust: High-profile national UK youth charity focused on young people aged 11-30 through education, employment and progression programmes. Overlaps with Youth Options' Progression Opportunities, but operates at national scale with significantly larger funding base.
- YMCA England & Wales: Large national youth and community organisation providing youth work, housing, health and family programmes through a federated network of local YMCAs. Operates a similar community-centre youth model to Youth Options but at much greater scale and with national brand recognition.
- Barnardo's: Largest UK children's charity, providing fostering, mental health, early years and youth services across the country. Overlaps with Youth Options on at-risk youth, family support and prevention, but at vastly greater scale and with national statutory contracts.
- The Children's Society: National UK charity supporting disadvantaged children through early intervention, mental health and youth participation programmes. Comparable on mission and beneficiary cohort to Youth Options, though with national reach and broader statutory partnerships.
Others
- UK Youth: National infrastructure body and membership network for the youth sector in the UK. Not a direct delivery peer but a sector ecosystem enabler whose funding, policy and training programmes shape the operating environment for community youth charities like Youth Options.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Youth Options social profiles
Digital presenceYouth Options financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Youth Options leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Youth Options funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Youth Options M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Youth Options
What does Youth Options do?
Youth Options is a children and youth charity that engages, develops and empowers young people aged 7-18+ through youth centre drop-in sessions, prevention and early-intervention services, targeted one-on-one and group support, family support, career-focused progression opportunities and nature-based outdoor learning across Southampton, Winchester and the New Forest. It also operates preschools, holiday clubs/childcare and Mansel Park Pavilion venue hire, and runs the Youth Ambassador Programme and annual Youth Survey funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Is Youth Options a public or private company?
Youth Options is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Youth Options founded?
Youth Options was founded in 1937.
Where is Youth Options based?
Youth Options is headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Youth Options make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Fundraising is the primary driver. The others are venue Hire, corporate Support and grant Funding.
Who are Youth Options's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Family Action, Catch22, Centrepoint and Groundwork UK. Broad incumbents are Action for Children, The Prince's Trust, YMCA England & Wales, Barnardo's and The Children's Society. UK Youth is listed as an others.
Does Youth Options have an API?
No public API is recorded for Youth Options.
What industry is Youth Options in?
Youth Options's product category is Youth and Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAD, Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of BPAGADAM, Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8300.