Stuart is a Senior Associate working on Social Venture Support, he was previously the Senior Associate on The Youth of Today Youth Leadership Fund.

The Youth of Today was a two-year partnership of seven leading youth organisations aiming to increase the quality, quantity and diversity of opportunities for young people as leaders of change in their communities. Young people led the programme, made decisions about grants and shaped the research. The Youth of Today £1 million fund reached over 1,500 young people, through investment in 37 youth sector organisations.

Stuart's passion and commitment for developing the capacity of the third sector to deliver opportunities for young people stems from his time in South Yorkshire developing his own social enterprise which enabled young people to access employment opportunities within the creative industries.

Prior to working at the Young Foundation, Stuart was based at UnLtd (The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs) where he spent 4 years coaching and mentoring individuals who have set up a range of innovative social enterprises and charities. He has worked across the full range of UnLtd's funding programmes and spent 1 year developing and securing funding for UnLtd's range of national youth programmes.

Stuart is a community trainer and self-professed business modelling geek, who developed his understanding regarding the importance of local skills development by working alongside a number of community activists in South Yorkshire, through the unique community-based school of Regeneration - known previously as ‘Regen School'. During his time there he co-ordinated the ‘Toolkit for Regeneration' training programme and developed courses in social enterprise and sustainable development, which he still delivers at the University of Sheffield.

Contact

stuart.thomason@youngfoundation.org or call 020 8980 6263