Voyage Youth

What Voyage Youth does

Voyage Youth is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1068108) headquartered at Hackney Community College Shoreditch Campus in London that delivers leadership, education, and mentoring programmes for young Black people aged 13-21 facing social and racial disadvantage. The organisation operates a portfolio of accredited and non-accredited programmes spanning employability (Aim for Success), environmental sustainability (HYPE: Horizons Youth Project for the Environment, Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities), community safety (Young Leaders for Safer Cities), heritage preservation (Windrush Archive Project, Windrush Elders Book), women's empowerment (Good for Girls), research advocacy (MOSAIC with University of Bristol/Wellcome Trust, Black Youth Work in London report), and youth voice platforms (Voyage Voices, Youth Voice Network, Tech Ambassador Programme). The underlying technology footprint is intentionally lightweight — a Moodle-based learning management system (Voyage Learning Login) and standard digital tools for programme delivery — reflecting that Voyage Youth is a programme-led charity rather than a technology platform.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded rather than revenue-generating in a commercial sense. Income streams include individual donations (JustGiving), corporate partnerships (Goldman Sachs, Gallagher, Mintel, Marsh, UBS, Arena Flowers), and institutional/government grants (Mayor of London, City Bridge Foundation, Sport England, National Lottery, GO! London, Hackney Council, Windrush Day Fund, Near Neighbours Foundation, Charles Hayward Foundation, Rank Foundation, Wellcome Trust via MOSAIC). Programmes are provided free of charge to participants, with the only pricing signal being a £10 fee for Week 2 of the Summer Scheme residential. Operations are run by a small team of 1-10 employees led by CEO Paul Anderson MBE, with a newly constituted Board of Trustees spanning digital, communications, partnerships, finance, governance, and education expertise following the 2023 transition from Trust to Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Name

Voyage Youth

Legal name

Voyage Youth

Website

https://voyageyouth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Voyage Youth is a London-based social justice charity delivering accredited leadership, employability, environmental, and heritage programmes for young Black people aged 13-21 facing racial and social disadvantage, funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth-to-Adult Bridge & College Readiness (Noncredit) (EDAAAEAK), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programmes
• Youth mentoring services
• Community education programmes
• Youth employability training
• Social justice charity

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Voyage Youth receives donations through platforms like JustGiving. The organisation relies on a mix of trust, foundations and donations for funding its work.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporate companies including Goldman Sachs, Gallagher, and others provide work experience, mentoring, and funding support. Corporate partners contribute to EDI/ESG initiatives.
3. Government and Institutional Funding: Funding from Mayor of London, City Bridge Foundation, Sport England, National Lottery, GO! London, Hackney Council, and other public bodies to deliver specific programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Voyage Youth is a registered charity that delivers leadership, education and mentoring programmes to marginalized young people aged 13–21 facing social and racial disadvantage, with a primary focus on Black communities in London. Programmes span BTEC-accredited training, employability skills development, environmental advocacy and civic engagement projects, supported by the proprietary Voyage Employability Framework and delivered through partner colleges and an online learning platform.

Product overview

Voyage Youth is a social justice charity offering a comprehensive suite of youth empowerment programmes rather than a unified technology platform. Their core offerings include accredited BTEC Level 2 leadership courses (Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities and Young Leaders for Safer Cities), the Voyage Employability Framework, and multiple targeted programmes such as Aim for Success, HYPE environmental programme, Good for Girls, and the Windrush Archive Project. They also operate research initiatives like the MOSAIC mental health project, advocacy programmes including the Police Accountability Group, and youth voice platforms such as Voyage Voices and the Youth Voice Network. The portfolio spans education, employment, environmental sustainability, heritage preservation, mental health, and police reform, unified by the mission to empower young Black people and transform disadvantaged communities in London.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth Investigator Network: A youth-led enquiry project where young people conduct research and investigation on issues affecting their communities.
• HYPE (Horizons Youth Project for the Environment)
• Aim for Success
• Good for Girls
• Windrush Archive Project
• Voyage Employability Framework
• Voyage Voices

Products and services

• Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities BTEC Level 2 accredited course equipping young participants with leadership skills focused on sustainable cities, delivered through college-based cohorts.
• Young Leaders for Safer Cities BTEC Level 2 accredited course developing leadership capacity among young people focused on safer cities and community safety.
• Aim for Success (A4S) Cohort-based youth programme offering structured progression pathways including a residential retreat in week 2 to support personal development and goal setting.
• HYPE: Horizons Youth Project for the Environment Environmental programme engaging young participants in environmental advocacy and sustainability projects.
• Good for Girls Project Targeted programme supporting young women and girls through tailored development activities.
• Windrush Archive Project Cultural heritage project engaging young people with the history and legacy of the Windrush generation.
• MOSAIC Project Research-led programme exploring the lived experiences of young people from the communities Voyage Youth serves.
• Tech Ambassador Programme Programme developing technology-related leadership and advocacy skills among young participants.
• Environmental Ambassador Programme Programme developing environmental leadership, advocacy and engagement skills among young participants.
• Young Black Positive Advocates (YBPA) Advocacy programme supporting positive representation and voice of young Black people.
• Safe in the City Community safety programme supporting young people in navigating and shaping safer urban environments.
• Youth Voice Network (YVN) Network providing a structured platform for young people to influence policy and practice through collective voice and advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of 2022 cohort would recommend Voyage to friends/family; 100% improved attitude towards learning; 95% returned to graduate schemes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MOSAIC project - a major five-year Wellcome Trust-funded research programme examining mental health inequalities affecting young people across the UK. Voyage supported the London element, recruiting and engaging young Black men and other underrepresented young people.
• City and GuildsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation partner for HYPE programme, providing recognised credentials for participants completing environmental training.
• Hackney ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to document, preserve and celebrate the experiences of Hackney's Windrush generation. Young people lead the archiving work, learning professional archiving skills from Dr Etienne Joseph.
• Off CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health and wellbeing partner providing support services and collaborative programmes for young people.
• Black Men for ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-led organisation partnered on mental health and wellbeing initiatives including Operation Smiles project.
• Street DoctorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteering organisation with young healthcare students delivering first aid training and the StepWise programme teaching life-saving skills.
• MintelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner that hosted Good for Girls programme participants for real-world workplace exposure and career inspiration.
• Action for ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental charity partner in Race for Nature project, collaborating on diversifying the environmental sector and supporting young Black leadership.
• RSPBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner contributing to Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities course development and green employment pathways.
• Greenpeace UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organisation part of Voyage's sustainability network and Race for Nature collaboration.
• Judy Ling WongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability specialist consulting on Young Leaders for Sustainable Cities course and supporting pipelines into green employment.
• Zoological Society of London (ZSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in collaborative workshops and career exposure for underrepresented youth in conservation and wildlife sectors. ZSL Youth Advisory Board collaboration.
• UBS BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Cambridge Spark AI Masterclass for Voyage Tech Ambassadors, providing tech industry exposure and skills development.
• SOS UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Race for Nature partnership working to amplify Black voices in environmental movement.
• Generation SuccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Race for Nature project supporting environmental sector diversity and youth empowerment.
• Museum of the HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage partner for Windrush Elders project and host of Caribbean Garden Tea Party event. Also partnered on MOTH Project for Robert Geffrye statue consultation.
• Climb OverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded exchange programme partner involving Croatia, Latvia, and UK for youth imprisonment impact work.
• The Skills CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of free CSCS training and construction skills bootcamps for young people.
• Black Cultural ArchivesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage partner supporting Windrush Elders initiative with archival collection strategy.
• London Wildlife TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of sustainability network supporting course development and green sector pathways.
• Client EarthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental law charity in Voyage's sustainability network for diversifying the green sector.
• Hackney CVSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfrastructure organisation supporting Voyage's community work through partnership with Rachel King.
• Outward BoundsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of residential outdoor adventure centre in Ullswater, Cumbria for summer scheme Week 2.
• NCC Hackney (New City College)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner hosting programmes at their Hackney campus location.
• GallaghercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInsurance and consultancy firm providing paid work experience placements for Voyage graduates during summer months.
• Zoe Garbett (London Assembly Member)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon Assembly Member who led scrutiny action on Black youth work funding, tabled Mayor's Question Time and follow-up letter.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 100 Black Interns: Initiative placing Black university students into paid internships across UK corporates. Overlaps with Voyage's Aim for Success paid work-experience model and corporate partner base.
• Key4Life: UK charity rehabilitating young men at risk of offending or re-offending through mentoring and employability programmes. Direct peer on London-based, Black-and-disadvantaged-youth offending diversion mission.
• IntoUniversity: UK charity running local learning centres supporting young people from under-represented backgrounds to access higher education and employment. Very direct comp on educational attainment, employed mentors, and corporate/university referrals.
• Generation Success: UK social enterprise supporting high-achieving students and graduates from underrepresented backgrounds through mentoring, networking, and career exposure. Direct peer on targeting Black and minority-ethnic youth with corporate partner work experience.
• Brixton Finishing School: Social enterprise equipping young people from underrepresented backgrounds with creative and digital skills through employer-led programmes. Direct peer on youth employability, employer partnerships, and short-format cohort delivery in London.
• Creative Access: UK social enterprise supporting underrepresented young people into creative industries through paid internships and mentoring. Comparable on employer-paid work placements and Black youth focus.
• Elevation Networks: UK charity helping Black and minority-ethnic students enter competitive professions through mentoring, internships, and skills training. Closely comparable on Black youth career pipeline programme design.

Broad incumbents

• Prince's Trust: Large UK charity supporting disadvantaged young people through education, training, and employment programmes. Comparable mission-overlap (youth employability, training, and mentoring) but at national scale and far larger budget than Voyage Youth.
• UK Youth: National umbrella and capacity-building organisation for youth work in the UK, funding and supporting local youth organisations. Comparable as a broader-sector incumbent laying out the funding infrastructure Voyage Youth depends on.
• Catch-22: Large UK social business delivering education, employability, and youth justice services. Comparable as a multi-programme youth charity with government commissioning and at-risk-youth focus, but operating nationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/voyageyouth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/voyageyouth
• Facebookfacebook.com/voyageyouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/voyageyouth
• Instagraminstagram.com/voyageyouth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Voyage Youth