gen22 & ideas made real

young people

In the West Midlands, youth unemployment is the highest in the country — and in Birmingham, one of the youngest and most deprived cities in Europe, the need for support has never been greater. Nearly one in eight young people in the region are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), with many facing multiple and complex barriers.

Our youth programmes are proven to reach and empower those who need it most. In fact, 44.2% of participants come from the 20% most deprived areas in England.

The challenge is real — so is the impact. Explore our youth programmes below.

young people accessing opportunities

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felt more resilient as a result of the programme

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skills & volunteering for young people

gen22

 Gen22 is our youth volunteering programme, launched in 2021. It’s designed to empower young people aged 16–24 from across the West Midlands by helping them build valuable skills, improve their employability, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Inspired by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Gen22 supports young people who may face barriers to opportunity—whether they’re young carers or parents, have a criminal record, or struggle with confidence and social engagement.
Through partnerships with local organisations, Gen22 offers 30-hour volunteer placements that often serve as a stepping stone to further training or paid employment.

Gen22 helped me by empowering my voice and allowing me to have the validation, push and kickstart to make meaningful change…they value me and it means a lot.

ZeZe Sohawan, Founder of Emotion Dysregulation in Autism 

gained new skills as a result of Gen22.

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now have the skills they need to get to where they want to in life

0 .1%

youth social action

ideas made real

Ideas Made Real an exciting, one-of-a-kind opportunity for young people aged 16–24 across the West Midlands, brings bold, brilliant ideas for social action to life.
Whether it’s about community, creativity, or change-making, this programme gives young people the support they need to turn their passion into a real-world project that makes a difference.
Previous projects have included:
• Launching a podcast platform for open conversations on issues that matter
• Building community gardens and wellness spaces
• Delivering care packages and meals to those in need
• Creating a local basketball league to bring people together
• Leading neighbourhood clean-up initiatives
If you’ve got a great idea to improve your community, Ideas Made Real can help make it happen.