Ages 16–18Skills & OpportunityLaunching soon
Ambition in Action
Young people set up a real project or small social enterprise: spot an opportunity, plan and cost it, pitch for seed funding, launch it and find out what worked.
What teams do
Start something real.
Ambition in Action asks: what could I build if somebody trusted me to lead?
Spot an opportunity
Listen to the community and find a need your team could meet with a project or small business.
Pitch for seed funding
Present to a supportive panel of local businesses, community leaders, funders or former participants.
Launch it
Launch it for real: a product, service, event, campaign or stall.
Show what changed
Track sales, feedback and impact, then present the results publicly.
Week by week
Ten weeks, from idea to impact.
Weekly two-hour sessions. Each week has a clear output, so teams always know what they’re building towards.
Week 1What Needs Changing?
Teams map the issues in their community and what they care about. Output: a community issue map.
Week 2Listen Before You Solve
A mini consultation to find out what people actually need. Output: evidence of need.
Week 3Ideas Into Solutions
Ideas are shortlisted and one concept is chosen. Output: a project concept.
Week 4Build the Plan
Roles, timeline, risks and delivery steps. Output: a team plan.
Week 5Money Makes Choices Real
Budget, costs, pricing and resources. Output: a costed business plan.
Week 6Pitch for Action
Each team pitches to a supportive panel, which makes a seed-funding decision. Output: a pitch and a funding decision.
Week 7Make It Happen
Buying, outreach, permissions and preparation. Output: a launch-ready project.
Week 8Deliver
The activity, product, service, event or campaign goes live in the community.
Week 9What Changed?
Feedback, numbers and learning. Output: an impact review.
Week 10Showcase and Pass It On
A public presentation, certificates and reflection on what comes next.
What teams could build
Teams shape the idea.
Projects must be achievable, safe, lawful and proportionate to the time and seed budget.
A youth event
Or a safe, low-cost social activity.
A community campaign
Raising awareness or changing a perception.
A small social-purpose product
Trading with a clear social aim, checked against legal and financial obligations first.
A peer-support resource
Information made by young people, for young people.
A neighbourhood improvement
Something visible that makes a local place better.
A creative showcase or service
Responding to a need young people identified.
Who it’s for
For young people ready to lead something real.
Ambition in Action is a natural next step after Purpose Bound, but it’s open to any 16–18 year old who wants to be trusted with something real.
- Aged 16–18
- Interested in starting things, planning, budgeting and making them happen
- Happy to work in a team of three or four
- Able to commit to a weekly session for 10 weeks
Support and safeguards
Young people lead. Adults keep it safe.
A facilitator and mentors act as project coaches. Their job is to support safety and compliance without taking the project over.
Young people never hold grant funds themselves. Spending follows agreed organisational procedures, and every project is approved before any money is released.
How it’s kept safe and fair
- Facilitator approval before funds are released
- Risk assessments for any public activity
- Permissions, insurance and venue needs checked in advance
- Any trading activity checked against legal and financial rules before launch
What changes
What young people leave with.
Leadership
Taking responsibility for real decisions and roles.
Agency
Seeing that their decisions made a visible difference.
Practical skills
Budgeting, planning, communication and problem-solving.
Community connection
Working with people beyond their usual peer group.
Confidence
More able to lead, present and take action.
How to refer
Anyone can make a referral.
Ambition in Action is launching soon and is always free. Referrals made now join our interest list, and we’ll be in touch as places open.
Does it cost anything?
No. Ambition in Action is always free.
Do I need to have done Purpose Bound first?
No. Purpose Bound is a natural lead-in, but it isn’t required.
Who controls the money?
Teams pitch for a small seed fund. Young people don’t hold the money themselves: spending follows agreed procedures and is approved before it’s released.
What kind of project can we do?
Almost anything achievable, safe and lawful: an event, campaign, resource, neighbourhood improvement or service responding to a need.
When does it start?
Ambition in Action is launching soon. Register interest and we’ll be in touch as the first cohort is confirmed.
Support Ambition in Action
Help young people lead change.
Your support funds free cohorts, seed funding for youth-led projects and the mentors who coach them.