Youth Leads UK Publishes Impact Report for 2025–26
Youth Leads UK has published its Impact Report for 2025–26, setting out a year in which the charity reached over 1,500 young people across Greater Manchester and beyond – its highest programme sign-ups since it was founded.
The report shows 95% of participants reported a positive impact on their personal development, with two thirds coming from the 30% most deprived areas in England. Alongside its Leadership Programmes, the charity delivered its second year of the Youth Civic Leadership Programme, commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, through which 26 young people took up placements as trustees, magistrates, policy advisors and youth representatives. Ten went on to secure civic roles. The Combined Authority has since renewed the contract for 2026, after more than 70 young people applied for 36 places on the next cohort.
The year also saw the launch of Generation:NOW, Youth Leads UK’s five-year strategy, unveiled first in Greater Manchester and then at the House of Lords, where the charity marked 15 years since it was founded. Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham backed the continuation of the Civic Leadership Programme, while Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO CBE, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, delivered the keynote at the anniversary event.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Saeed Atcha MBE DL was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Civil Society Council in March, joining senior figures from Macmillan Cancer Support, Citizens Advice and The Children’s Society on a body overseeing delivery of the Civil Society Covenant.
Programme participant Maisha, who completed the Civic Leadership Programme, said:
“This programme reinforced my belief that lived experience is its own expertise. When young people are trusted and supported, they bring creativity, accountability and insight that can enrich every organisation.”
The report also sets out the charity’s financial position for the year, with total income of £489k – its strongest performance to date – and details of its governance, theory of change, and delivery partners.
Read the full Impact Report 2025–26 (PDF)
