Sheffield Futures
Sheffield Future’s mission
Sheffield Futures provides a safe, supportive environment where young people in Sheffield and South Yorkshire can feel seen, supported and hopeful about their future.
The charity works alongside 11- to 25-year-olds at pivotal moments in their lives, with a particular focus on those navigating poor mental health, being out of education, employment or training, or feeling disconnected from their city and community. They want every young person who comes to Sheffield Futures to feel healthier, more confident and more hopeful about what comes next in their lives.
How will the donation be used?
This is an investment in Sheffield’s future. The donation will be used to deliver a City Centre Youth Employment Hub for local young people, supporting them to find pathways and opportunities that are right for them.
Through drop-ins and one-to-one support, ‘meet the employer’ events and coaching workshops focused on specific themes such as navigating AI, we’ll be supporting local young people to thrive while reducing the number of young people struggling to access work, education or training.
What impact is the donation expected to have?
Sheffield Futures will use the donation to support young people in Sheffield aged 16–25 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), or at risk of becoming so. In its first year, the programme is expected to engage at least 45 young people, including 15 into sustained employment and a further 10 into education or training. Through tailored support, the project will build confidence, independence and key life and work skills, addressing barriers such as low confidence, limited experience and lack of personalised guidance. Participants are expected to show improved motivation, job-readiness and clearer understanding of career pathways, while stronger links with local employers will help develop future talent pipelines. Ultimately, the project aims to enable young people to take meaningful next steps and feel more optimistic about their futures and opportunities in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.
“It is well-evidenced that local young people are facing record numbers of unemployment, whilst mental health challenges and social isolation continue to rise. This is not just about individual hardship; it is about the kind of city we are becoming.
If thousands of young people grow up feeling shut out and unsupported, Sheffield risks losing a generation of talent, creativity and leadership that our communities and economy urgently need - but with timely, relational support, those same young people can be the ones who shape a fairer, kinder and more hopeful city for everyone.”
CHRIS HOOD CEO, Sheffield Futures
“Sheffield Futures plays a vital role in supporting young people across Sheffield to build confidence, develop skills and access education and employment opportunities. I nominated Sheffield Futures because I understand the significant impact that mental health and social issues can have on a young person’s confidence, motivation and belief in their career potential.”
REBECCA ROBERTS
Paralegal, Irwin Mitchell