We believe that all children and young people in Camden should have the support and opportunities to thrive.
That’s why we aim to grow a vibrant, resilient and connected community that is invested in supporting, and creating meaningful opportunities for, all children and young people in Camden and to create a new model of local support, at a time of significant funding challenges.
Our achievements since 2017
5,693 PLACES FILLED BY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE DURING OUR 2023 HAF PROGRAMME
We have been fortunate enough to be Camden Council’s chosen delivery partner for this national programme, funded by the Department for Education. The Holiday, Activity & Food (HAF) Programme provides nutritional food and enrichment activities to Free School Meal eligible children and young people across the three main holidays each year: Spring, Summer and Winter.
It should be noted that this is the final year of the Holiday, Activities, and Food Programme, which has only been guaranteed by the
Department for Education until March 2025, with Winter 2024 being the final guaranteed delivery period. We very much hope that the
success, and real need, of the HAF programme is understood and appreciated nationally, and that funding is committed by central
government to place the programme on more permanent footing, to ensure our children and young people are guaranteed the
holiday support and provision they deserve.
We have over 186 members
A significant part of our work is engaging our members. In 2023, our events for members have included specialist trainings, including a media and communications workshop (with local experts including the Camden New Journal in attendance), Autism Spectrum and SEND awareness training for youth and play workers (with local experts Asperger London Area Group), our Black History Month celebration (featuring an expert panel discussing black leadership in Camden’s youth sector), and our first leadership forum for Directors and CEOs of local Camden charities and CIC working with children and young people across the borough.
£1.1 Million distributed to Camden’s Children & Youth Sector In 2023
This funding supported programmes reaching over 12,500 children and young people in 2023 alone, many of whom are in receipt of Free School Meals. Alongside our grants distribution, we have also delivered over a dozen trainings and events for member organisations, engaging over 70 unique voluntary and community member organisations.
We Re-Launched our Young Ambassadors Programme
We re-launched our flagship Young Ambassadors Programme, working with 12 young Camden residents each year, aged 16-25, with the overall aim of helping to contribute to a more equal and socially mobile borough. Young participants are supported to develop employability skills, and also participate in shaping YCF’s work, including through attending our grants panels and informing our work.
We Launched Our Business Partnership Programme
Our business partnership programme enables us to work together with local businesses, corporations and individuals who share our vision, and want to invest in the next generation of young people in Camden. There are over 36,000 businesses in Camden, including major corporations, public transportation hubs, world-class museums, learning institutions, shopping districts, and more. We are bringing these organisations together to develop life-changing opportunities for children and young people throughout the borough.
Our new strategy to 2025
The impact of the pandemic has shown that children and young people, and therefore the sector, are in need of greater support than ever. At the same time, YCF’s history shows us that a place-based organisation that understands its community and its members is an essential means of strengthening both the sector and the outlook for Camden's children and young people.
Our strategy to 2025 will work in service of our key stakeholders, all of whom are integral to the success of our work, around the following strategic objectives:
- Increase long-term investment in the Children and Young People sector in Camden
- Connect members, partners and supporters in new cross-sector collaboration and partnerships
- Listen to young people and ensure they are safe, thriving and achieving their full potential
- Build members' capacity to deliver high-quality and sustainable youth provision
Nearly £1.4 million awarded since 2017
Through our grants we have awarded £1,374,966.98 and supported 202 projects delivered by members and affiliate members. These projects have benefited directly 10,406 children and young people and 235 youth workers, volunteers and staff.
We have over 130 members
We work to improve the lives of children & young people in Camden by focusing on cross-sector collaboration and supporting 86 Camden-based and 46 London-based non-for-profit organisations such as Kentish Town City Farm, Sommers Town, Coram's Fields, Maiden Laine and Lauderdale House.
Nearly £1 mill awarded in small grants in 2021
Young Camden Foundation delivered £922,781.43 of grant funding in 2021 through our HAF programme, Build Up Fund and Heads Up Fund.
2,300 children and young people supported through our HAF Programme in 2021
Our HAF 2021 Report shows that during HAF Summer 2021 there was space for 2,298 young people, with 37 providers offering activities over 54 sites, including schools, youth centres, community centres, libraries, and community gardens. The holiday hubs delivered a range of fun activities, from boxing to filmmaking, farm work to dancing.
2,603 children and young people benefited directly through our grants
162% more children and young people were supported through 8 grants in 2020. Grants included the Heads Up Fund, the HAF programme, Digital Youth Work Fund and the Summer Opportunities Fund. YCF delivered £226K of grant funding in 2020.
83% of young people felt happier after attending YCF HAF programme
The HAF programme awarded £23K to 5 holiday hubs and a total of 249 children and young people directly benefited from this fund supported by the Department for Education and Camden Council.
Digital Youth Work Resource Centre
We launched a Digital Youth Work Fund to co-produce a digital youth work resource centre that is accessible, inclusive, and sustainable, equip youth practitioners with the online tools required to continue the delivery of key elements of their youth work provision.
Over £100K awarded between 2019/2020
Young Camden Foundation delivered £126,926 of grant funding in 2019/2020 through five grant programmes
We partnered with Shaftesbury Plc, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Camden Council and Derwent London for the Heads Up Fund
Organisations delivered community based projects and services that focused on safeguarding the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people.
60% more children and young people supported through our grants programme
In only one year we supporter a total of 1575 children and young people in Camden.
Second Holiday, Activities and Food Programme
We partnered with The Hampstead Wells and Camden Trust, and Kitchen Social to support local community organisations with setting up holiday hugs during the summer holidays for children eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). YCF awarded over £10K to two holiday hubs.
The Summer Opportunities Fund awarded over £39K to 9 local organisations
Organisations ran a variety of projects as described below including outdoor, centre based an arts and crafts activities. 574 Young People aged between 5-25 years benefited from this fund.
We supported health and well-being, youth safety and youth voice opportunities
We partnered with London Borough of Camden through the Community Impact Fund to create more opportunities for local children and young people to design and deliver projects that will benefit others. As a result, children and young people improved their confidence, resilience, and the projects opened up new opportunities for young people to take community action. YCF awarded over £19K and a total of 231 children and young people benefited directly from this fund.
993 children and young people benefited directly through our grants
13 organisations were involved in the Summer Opportunities Fund and a total of 993 children and young people benefited directly from this fund.
£50K awarded in our first year of existence
We established the first Summer Opportunities Fund to support and promote the delivery of fun, creative, and life-changing activities for all local young people during the summer holidays.
YCF was stablished
Established in 2017, Young Camden Foundation is a registered charity set up to address the growing uncertainty of long-term investment in the children and young people sector in Camden and the need to build more cross-sector partnerships.