Young Foundation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Young Foundation is an organisation whose proclaimed mission is to undertake research to identify and understand social needs and then develop practical initiatives and institutions to address them. It describes itself as a centre for social innovation. A registered charity, its main purpose is to combine research in the social sciences, practical projects with local partners and the creation of new enterprises. It runs research programmes funded from a variety of sources including charitable foundations, the UK government and the EU, and gets backing from many companies, cities and governments. It is currently headed by Geoff Mulgan.

It was formed in April 2005 from the merger of the Institute of Community Studies and the Mutual Aid Centre. The Institute of Community Studies based in East London was an urban studies think tank founded in 1954 which had been the main vehicle through which Michael Young created over 60 organisations including the Open University and the Consumers' Association. More recently the Foundation has engaged in research on issues such as patient-led healthcare, neighbourhood democracy and ageing. Its Launchpad programme creates new enterprises - including a network of new schools (studio schools), new organisations in chronic disease, the web and around employment. The organisation works primarily in the UK but has also run projects elsewhere, including major conferences in China.

Recent publications from the Young Foundation include:

The New East End (Profile) by Geoff Dench, Kate Gavron and Michael Young (‘one of the most important books I’ve read in a long time’ Trevor Phillips head of the Commission for Race Equality; ‘everyone who cares about the future of our cities should read it’: David Willetts MP).
Good and Bad Power (Penguin) by Geoff Mulgan (described as ‘terrific’ by Alan Ryan in Prospect; ‘dazzling’ by Peter Preston in The Observer; and ‘a classic’ by Peter Hennessy in The Tablet).
The Polycentric Metropolis (Earthscan) by Sir Peter Hall and Kathy Pain, the culmination of a major 8 country study of the changing shape of cities focused on the advanced business services that many expect to be key drivers of growth over the next few decades.
Porcupines in Winter (edited by Alessandra Buonfino and Geoff Mulgan), a collection looking at the changing shape of communities and relationships in Britain.
Social Silicon Valleys: a manifesto for social innovation (published in parallel in English and Chinese in April 2006).
Double Devolution (edited by Fran Bury and Geoff Mulgan), a collection published with the Smith Institute setting out the case for local government reform.