Who We Are |

Transforming learning through leadership

UFA has worked with over 750,000 young people, trained 5,000 teachers and youth workers and supported 2,000 schools since we started in 1996. While we continue to learn and develop our programmes our fundamental mission, to develop in a young person leadership characteristics that can dramatically improve their life chances, has not changed.

Our delivery model

Our aim is to ensure schools and organisations have their own capacity to run UFA programmes and can embed them to make a long term sustainable difference. We know that some schools prefer us to work directly with their children and young people first and then build their own expertise having seen the benefits. Others prefer to start with professional development of their staff team, supporting them to increase expectations and aspirations of their students. Both approaches deliver measurable impact.

UFA In action

Throughout our case studies and impact reports you will hear the words of children and young people and the schools/organisations that we work with reflect what leadership and learning means to them and how they have developed through their work with UFA. It is their voices that drive us.

The UFA network unlocks the potential of young people. We raise aspirations across schools, homes and communities by creating transformational learning experiences.

We inspire and equip young people and the adults that support them to become confident individuals, successful learners and responsible leaders.

As a national educational charity, the UFA explores imaginative approaches to training in order to engage teachers and other professionals, parents, carers, community organisations and businesses in transforming their own learning practice. From this training we create learning teams often made up of adults and young people working together.

What People Say

“I have worked with UFA on Peer Facilitators, and Young Researchers and Evaluators (YRE). Both times it felt like a true collaboration, not just buying in an off the shelf bit of training.
“The UFA is expert in inspiring young people to be confident learners. What I really appreciate is the time and care they take to bespoke their training. Reflection and evaluation are threaded through the course. The UFA has a very experienced and knowledgeable team of trainers to call upon.
“They are also a generous organisation and are happy to share learning materials – all well laid out, clear, easy to use and packed with top tips."

Dawn Williams, Sage Gateshead

"I wasn't a bad person, but I just didn't take things seriously and probably would have continued that way if it wasn't for the UFA. My involvement with the UFA changed my life. It's shown me leadership skills and helped me being in a teaching/leading role. I feel now I'm a good role model."

UFA Lead Learner

“The UFA opened up new ways of thinking, as well as providing a raft of fantastic methods and exercises that would encourage interaction, learning and ultimately, improved relationships – not only between pupils, but pupils and staff. It seemed to me that it was a win-win situation and I was really keen to put what we’d learnt into practice and develop a programme in school.”

Dale Holding, Honley High School