At City Year UK, young people give a year to tackle educational inequality in our schools because they see a chance for change. Discover how they coach and inspire pupils to succeed - and gain standout skills, learn to lead and find out who they want to become.
What educational inequality looks like
Around 30% of children are growing up in poverty in the UK
That’s nine pupils in a class of 30. Too often, their prospects are linked to how much their family earns.
By age 11 less than half of pupils entitled to free school meals reach the standards expected in reading, writing and maths
By 19, only 16% attain at least 2 A levels.
Great teachers are key to tackling educational inequality
but some pupils still need more support than even the best schools have the resources to provide.
What change looks like
At City Year UK, we focus on enabling inspirational young people to volunteer in schools to support those furthest from opportunity, full-time, for a year. They are trained and coached to give much needed extra help to children who need it most. We see that by helping pupils grow, our City Year Mentors grow too. They leave as leaders, committed to social change and ready to pursue their career.
Vertex Global Week of Service 2025 – powered by City Year’s Care Force and over 70 dedicated #VertexVolunteers from Vertex Pharmaceuticals! This September, we...
“Every child deserves someone on their side, to fight for them and to support them. If you can be that person, you will change their life."
City Year Mentor City Year UK
Youth Matters: Reflections on the new National Youth Strategy
City Year UK’s young mentors and staff warmly welcome the new 10-year National Youth Strategy from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which rightly places young people at the centre and responds to their real, day-to-day needs.
