Jack Layton

Place Research and Impact Manager, Institute for Community Studies

Dr. Jack Layton joined The Young Foundation as a Senior Researcher in 2023 and was promoted to Place Research and Impact Manager in 2025. He previously worked for the Bridge Group – a small research consultancy working on social equality in higher education and the professions. Prior to that Jack earned a PhD at UCL, where he studied the role of urban public sports facilities as social infrastructures. Jack has written several widely read and highly cited articles that have developed the concept of social infrastructure in a UK context.

Through his work, Jack is passionate about making our towns and cities better places to live. He works to ensure people’s voices across the country are heard and their needs prioritised.

Outside of work Jack will usually be found outside – hiking, swimming, cycling, or watching football.

Contact information

[email protected]

Place Research and Impact Manager, Institute for Community Studies

Contact information

Contributions

‘Britain’s political volatility reflects the erosion of connection’

Making space for community engagement

Beyond tourism: the challenges and opportunities facing UK coastal communities

Knowledge in action

Is loneliness in Britain creating “an island of strangers”?

The beautiful game: in divided times, can amateur football build community?

‘A movement of hope, a movement of neighbours’

A low participation election

Community research

Social innovation