kent youth is a registered charity formed in 1936. The seventy year story of Kent Youth is one of the untold stories of the county. It is a story filled with challenge, spirit, opportunity and hope...

Download the latest edition of our quarterly bulletin Kent Youth Matters

"I know personally how important it is to ensure an organisation with a long history, one that is part of the fabric of the county, must remain relevant and purposeful in the twenty first century. Kent Youth is achieving this blend of experience with modern purpose"                     Edwin Boorman OBE DL DCL.  

Throughout the county, adults have for decades given their time freely as volunteers to help young people in their communities. Thousands of today's adults can look back to their local club or group and reflect on the positive influence that a volunteer adult had on their childhood and the decisions they made. Kent Youth was originally formed in 1936 to help bring greater coordination and support to these different groups which usually catered then for either boys or girls only. Nowadays, our network of affiliated  groups and organisations is much more diverse, and includes volunteer run youth clubs, faith groups, uniformed organisations, drop-in centres, youth cafes, detached teams as well as publicly funded youth centres and initiatives.

Through our connect programme we support the development of over 18,000 children and young people through 232 locally based organisations, groups and projects in every area of Kent and Medway. We provide essential specialist infrastructure and capacity building support to 1,200 adult volunteers, 650 part-time paid staff and over 150 full-time youth workers. 

We also work directly with young people creating opportunities for and enabling their personal development. Our work includes peer mentoring and peer education through our me2you programme, managed inclusion of young people with disabilities through our me2 programme, enabling 16-25 year olds to be effective volunteer community sports & dance leaders through our activeyouth programme, and developing life enriching opportunities for young people - positive things to do and places to go which forms part of our positive activities aspect of our connect programme.

Our charity has a strong, experienced, professional team of Honorary Officers, Trustees and staff. It is this team, combined with the efforts of our valuable volunteers which enables us to achieve so much. 

Patrons: Lord Astor of Hever DL and Anthony Leschallas
President: Andrew J B Rowe DL
Deputy President: Edwin R P Boorman OBE DCL DL

Chairman: Godfrey O linnett TD DL

Treasurer: Andrew Steel ACCA

Trustees:
Rupert Allinson, Sarah Gilbert, Joanne Holmes, Anthony Joy, Godfrey Linnett, James Rice, Duncan Smith, Andrew Steel ACCA, Christine Vousden