Power UP! with YWF

Power UP! is Young Westminster Foundation’s youth leadership and empowerment programme, co-designed with young people to ensure youth voice is embedded across the organisation and beyond.

It provides pathways for under-served young people into paid freelance work, governance, research and advocacy, amplifying the voices of Westminster’s young people where it matters most.

It begins with YEP! (our 4-month Youth Engagement Programme), where young people gain skills in public speaking, research & grant making, social action and more!

This year’s YEP! programme is running until February 2026.

Keep updated via our social media platforms Instagram and LinkedIn.

We are working with 17 young people for this year’s YEP! programme. Learning sessions run until February 2026
Watch this space for updates and news of future opportunities to get involved!
READ MORE: YEP! poster with role description

YWF Youth Associates

Our Youth Associates are a dynamic, diverse and talented group of young leaders, trained and supported by YWF to collaborate with organisations across Westminster and beyond. They work in paid, freelance roles across areas such as,

  • Grant-making
  • Public speaking & event hosting
  • Youth-led research
  • Interview & recruitment panels
  • Policy consultation & advocacy
  • Workshop facilitation
  • Organisational strategy

Whether you’re a funder, business, charity, university or council department, a Youth Associate can offer fresh, lived insight and strengthen the credibility, relevance and inclusivity of your work.

OUR YOUTH-LED RESEARCH

Why Join?

Gain valuable new skills and meet like-minded young people from across Westminster

Get paid London Living Wage (£14.80/hour) for taking part and attending sessions

Inform and influence what’s on offer for young people in your local area

Attend fun events and meet business professionals and politicians

Help us raise awareness of Young Westminster Foundation and generate funds for youth clubs

Youth Associates in action

  • Two Youth Associates recently sat on our recruitment panel for the new Youth Voice & Engagement Manager at Young Westminster Foundation, shaping questions, scoring answers and helping select the best candidate.
  • They co-designed and delivered a peer research project featured in Our City. Our Future.
  • They gave speeches at a business celebration event in Parliament hosted by Westminster MPs
  • Youth Associates have also taken part in grant panels, reviewed applications, met with funders and helped direct funding to where it’s most needed.

What’s coming up in 2026?

Our Youth Associates are are available now to work with local stakeholders: identifying solutions, sharing lived perspectives, and shaping plans that reflect the needs of Westminster’s young people. Find out more.

This summer our Youth Associates will be helping us to shape and research the next round of our Peer-led Needs Analysis ‘Our City, Our Future’. This piece of research underpins the organisational strategy and priorities of Young Westminster Foundation.