# Young Foundation > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Young_Foundation > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Young_Foundation.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Foundation > Source revision: 1351462556 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) UK research organization This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent sources. (January 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) The Young Foundation Formation 1 November 1953; 72 years ago (1953-11-01)[1] as the Institute of Community Studies Type Social Innovation think tank Headquarters Toynbee Hall 28 Commercial Street London E1 6LS United Kingdom Chief Executive Helen Goulden Subsidiaries Action for Happiness Institute for Community Studies Staff 70 Volunteers 200 [2] Website YoungFoundation.org **The Young Foundation** is a [not-for-profit](/source/Not-for-profit) [think tank](/source/Think_tank) driving community research and [social innovation](/source/Social_innovation). It is named after founder [Michael Young](/source/Michael_Young%2C_Baron_Young_of_Dartington), the British sociologist and social activist.[3] ## History The Young Foundation The [Institute of Community Studies (ICS)](/source/Institute_of_Community_Studies) was set up by Michael Young in 1953. The ICS was an urban studies think tank which combined academic research and practical social innovation. In 2005, it merged with the Mutual Aid Centre and was renamed The Young Foundation, in honour of its founder, [Michael Young](/source/Michael_Young%2C_Baron_Young_of_Dartington). In both current and previous incarnations, The Young Foundation claims its goals are to emphasise combining research and practical application.[4] Michael Young worked to shape the UK’s new welfare state after the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II). In the early 1950s he set up the [Institute of Community Studies](/source/Institute_of_Community_Studies) and used it as a base for research and action. ## Programme The Young Foundation has continued to incubate new social enterprises, such as the Social Innovation Exchange[5] in 2007 which was incorporated in 2013.[6] The Young Foundation is currently involved in different areas including health and well-being, place-based work, inequality and support for young people.[7] ## Notable former employees This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) - [Peter Hall](/source/Peter_Hall_(urbanist)) - [Geoff Mulgan](/source/Geoff_Mulgan) - [Rushanara Ali](/source/Rushanara_Ali) - [Charlotte Leslie](/source/Charlotte_Leslie) - [Peter Townsend](/source/Peter_Townsend_(sociologist)) - [Yvonne Roberts](/source/Yvonne_Roberts) - [Peter Willmott](/source/Peter_Willmott_(sociologist)) - [Ann Cartwright](/source/Ann_Cartwright) - [Karen Dunnell](/source/Karen_Dunnell) ## See also - [Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington](/source/Michael_Young%2C_Baron_Young_of_Dartington) - [List of UK think tanks](/source/List_of_UK_think_tanks) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Hackett, Tricia (17 November 2011). ["Designing in Social Sustainability: How to create thriving new communities"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140812163349/https://ocva.org.uk/sites/ocva.org.uk/files/Tricia%20Hackett%20presentation.pdf) (PDF). *Oxfordshire County Voluntary and Community Sector Conference*. The Young Foundation. Archived from [the original](http://www.ocva.org.uk/sites/ocva.org.uk/files/Tricia%20Hackett%20presentation.pdf) (PDF) on 12 August 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["*The Young Foundation, registered charity no. 274345*"](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=274345&subId=0). [Charity Commission for England and Wales](/source/Charity_Commission_for_England_and_Wales). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Dench, Geoff; Gavron, Kate; Flower, Tony, eds. (1997). *Young at Eighty: The Prolific Public Life of Michael Young*. [Carcanet Press](/source/Carcanet_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1857542431](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1857542431). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["About us"](https://www.youngfoundation.org/about/). *The Young Foundation*. Retrieved 22 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["The Power of Exchange for Good"](https://socialinnovationexchange.org/history/). *Social Innovation Exchange*. EdelGive Foundation. Retrieved 21 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Social Innovation Exchange | Company number 08364475"](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08364475/filing-history?page=3). *[Companies House](/source/Companies_House)*. Retrieved 21 January 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Our work"](https://youngfoundation.org/our-programmes/). *The Young Foundation*. Retrieved 21 January 2026. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.youngfoundation.org) Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF National United States --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Young Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Foundation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Foundation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.