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Charity Partner

Youth Leads UK & the Weston Charity Awards

Winning an award and participating in the Pilotlight 360 programme.

About the project

Youth Leads UK is a social mobility charity focused on empowering young people to fulfil their potential and take an active role in society. It creates opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop skills, gain confidence, and become leaders in their communities.

In 2024 the charity won a Weston Charity Award, receiving an unrestricted grant and a year of strategic support via the Pilotlight 360 programme.

 

Youth Leads UK

What is it like to participate?

Chief Executive Officer of Youth Leads UK, Saeed Atcha MBE DL, shares his insights on winning an award and taking part in the Pilotlight 360 programme.

What is Pilotlight 360?

Explore the programme

Pilotlight 360 is an intensive 8 month programme bringing together charity leaders and expert business partners.

Through focused exploration and expert coaching, the business experts share their skills to help charities address pressing challenges and strengthen their strategy and governance. In tandem, the business experts develop their professional skills while creating a positive, direct impact.

  • Charities who participate in our Pilotlight 360 programme increase their income by an average of 48% (two years after working with us).

  • Nine out of 10 charity leaders say the Pilotlight 360 programme has a major positive impact on strategic vision.

<p>Contact us to find out more</p>

 

Saeed Atcha - Youth Leads UK

Q: What motivated you to apply for the Weston Charity Awards?

A: We applied because we had reached a critical stage in our organisation’s development. After celebrating our 10th anniversary and experiencing steady year-on-year growth, we were focused on ensuring the sustainability of Youth Leads UK for the future.

While being a youth-led charity with a young team and a founder-CEO provided us with unique energy and perspective, it also meant we faced specific challenges such as managing capacity, income generation, and ensuring we had the right organisational structures in place.

We realised that while our enthusiasm and commitment had driven our success so far, we needed guidance to strengthen our internal processes, improve strategic planning, and prevent potential issues like 'founder syndrome'.

We were also beginning to explore corporate engagement and wanted to ensure we had the necessary frameworks and leadership skills to grow sustainably.

Q: What impact has participating in Pilotlight 360 had on your charity?

A:  Following the Pilotlight 360 programme, we’ve implemented a new operating model that has transformed the way we work. 

One of the most valuable outcomes was tackling the big existential questions around how we can continue to stay true to being youth-led while evolving as we grow. This process has undoubtedly strengthened our resilience as a charity.

While it was a substantial amount of work, we are still actively working through the recommendations from the programme.
The project gave us a strong foundation to build upon, and we’re already seeing the positive impact of the changes we’ve made, both big and small.

The programme has set us on a path toward greater sustainability and long-term success.

Youth_Leads_UK

Saeed's key takeaways for Pilotlight 360

Be open and honest
The more open you are about your organisation’s challenges, the more valuable the feedback and support you’ll receive. Don’t shy away from tough conversations.

Prepare to invest time and effort
The programme is as rewarding as the effort you put into it. Be ready to commit time to meetings, reflections, and implementation of recommendations.

Engage fully with the Pilotlighters
Their experience and knowledge are invaluable, so make the most of your time with them by being proactive in seeking their advice.

Have an idea of what you want to achieve
Knowing what areas you want to focus on and improve will help you get the most out of the experience, but things may change along the way — and that’s fine.

“Our experience of the Pilotlight 360 programme was incredibly valuable. It provided us with the external support and insight we needed to strengthen our organisation, while offering a space for reflection and growth.”

 

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