On Target for Tomorrow’s Youth: Why Corporate Partnerships Are the Lifeline of the Youth Sector

Earlier this year, our flagship Clay Pigeon Shoot raised an incredible £91,000 – a record-breaking total that marked NE Youth’s 90th anniversary in style. But beyond the celebration, this achievement tells a much bigger story: it shows how powerful corporate partnerships can be in shaping the future for young people across the North East.

The Challenge Facing the Youth Sector

Across our region, the picture for youth services is stark:

• Local authority funding for youth services in the North East has fallen by 76% since 2010 – one of the steepest declines in the country.
• In areas like Northumberland, 85% of youth organisations report cuts to their budgets since 2011.
• The North East also faces the highest rise in child poverty nationally, with 35% of young people now growing up in poverty.

This matters because youth services aren’t a luxury, they are essential lifelines. They provide safe spaces, trusted youth workers, and vital support for young people’s wellbeing, mental health, and aspirations. When these services disappear, young people lose opportunities, communities lose resilience, and society carries the long-term costs.

Why Corporate Partnerships Matter

Unlike many restricted grants, corporate partnerships often provide flexible, unrestricted funding. This is the kind of support that keeps youth centres open, pays for youth workers, and ensures we can respond quickly to what young people actually need.

But it’s about more than money. Corporate partners bring:

• Stability – long-term support that helps youth organisations plan and grow.
• Skills and expertise – from mentoring to volunteering, businesses have resources that can strengthen the sector.
• Social value impact – partnerships directly support ESG and CSR goals, showing measurable outcomes in communities.

At NE Youth, we see ourselves as more than a charity. We are a broker for the youth sector in the North East – connecting businesses with grassroots organisations, making sure investment reaches the young people and places that need it most.

The Impact Corporates Can Make

• Keeping doors open: A corporate partnership can mean a youth club in Gateshead stays open all year round.
• Backing trusted adults: It can fund youth workers who provide safe, consistent support to young people navigating tough challenges.
• Creating opportunities: From work experience to mentoring, businesses can help young people see and seize futures they may not have imagined.
• Strengthening communities: Every pound invested in youth work saves society money by reducing crime, improving wellbeing, and building skills for the future workforce.

A Call to Partnership

Our Clay Pigeon Shoot shows what’s possible when businesses and charities come together with purpose. But it doesn’t stop there. We want to have real conversations with more organisations about:

• How can we work together to create social value in the North East?
• How can your business support young people in ways that go beyond funding?
• How can NE Youth broker partnerships that deliver impact for both your company and our communities?

The future of our young people – and our region – depends on collaboration.

If your organisation is ready to explore what partnership could look like, we’d love to talk.

Jon Niblo, CEO
Email businessdevelopment@neyouth.org.uk