Value proposition

The UK’s home for community research and social innovation

The Young Foundation’s mission is to develop better connected and more sustainable communities across the UK. As a UKRI accredited Independent Research Organisation, social investor and community development practitioner, we combine all our skills and expertise, to further that mission.

We amplify the stories and lived experiences of people in our communities; using this as a spur to drive locally-led community action and enterprise. And we use what we learn across different communities to spot national patterns of need and opportunity. Then we work with national partners to support new ideas to tackle those shared, national challenges.

Bringing together our own – and other people’s – work, we are building a shared body of evidence, tools and insight about how communities are taking action on the issues that affect them. We are experts in understanding the changing role of communities in the 21st century.

We have a long track record incubating over 80 new organisations including: Which? The Open University, Language Line, Social Innovation Exchange, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Uprising and Action for Happiness. We continue to offer incubation support, plus office and back office support, to early-stage, innovative organisations that share our mission.

social innovation, social entrepreneurship, social venturing, social research, ethnography, public services innovation, research, investment, thinktank, community, and inequality