Full Project Description – YouthWISE

What are we creating?

YouthWISE is a UK-based, trauma-informed, lived-experience-led social enterprise that delivers impactful, evidence-based drug education workshops to young people aged 11–18.  Our programmes empower students with the knowledge, critical thinking, and emotional tools to make informed choices, build resilience, and thrive despite adversity.

We design and deliver these workshops in secondary schools, youth organisations, and local authorities, particularly in areas with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation.  Through powerful storytelling, practical tools, and critical dialogue, YouthWISE enables young people to understand better their experiences and the systems that shape them.

The Need

In the UK, young people from the most socioeconomically deprived areas are up to 18 times more likely to use drugs.  This isn’t simply a matter of moral failure; it’s often a social response to trauma, exclusion, poverty, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Most existing drug education is outdated, fear-based, and disconnected from the real lives of the students it aims to reach.  YouthWISE fills this critical gap by:

• Being led by lived experience,
• Using trauma-informed methods,
• Prioritising empathy, safety, and honest dialogue.

We don't preach, we connect, educate, and empower.

Who Benefits?

• Young people aged 11–18 in schools, colleges and youth services, particularly in Glasgow and Yorkshire, where drug-related harm is consistently high.
• Teachers and youth workers looking for authentic, engaging support resources aligned with well-being curricula.
• Communities - as better-informed, more resilient young people contribute to reduced harm and stronger local networks.

What Makes YouthWISE Unique?

YouthWISE is not just another drug awareness programme, it’s a movement rooted in:

• Authenticity – Delivered by a facilitator with lived experience of addiction and recovery, fostering immediate trust and relatability.
• Trauma-Informed Practice – Every workshop is grounded in psychological safety, emotional regulation, and compassion.
• Critical Dialogue – Inspired by Paulo Freire’s pedagogical approach, we encourage young people to challenge stigma and think critically.
• Evidence-Based Design – Informed by best practice from youth work, education, and public health.
• Social Enterprise Model – We operate on a sustainable freemium/premium basis to maximise reach and long-term impact.

Current Status

YouthWISE has completed several mock workshops in partnership with educators and young people, with strong feedback and demonstrated demand.  Our website domain is: www.youthwise.org.uk (yet to be fully launched, funding permitted).  Our branding has been developed, and early networks of schools and stakeholders are already engaged.

We were selected as one of the top international projects in the Santander X Explorer programme and are now preparing to launch our official pilot phase.

Use of Funds

We are seeking £10,000 to launch YouthWISE’s pilot phase.  This budget has been carefully costed and reflects only essential outgoings, with in-kind contributions (labour, content design, and administration) covered voluntarily by the founder during this early stage.

In-kind contributions by the founder include:

• Curriculum design
• Workshop facilitation
• Branding and communications
• Social media management
• Business development

If we exceed our £10,000 target:

If the campaign exceeds its goal, the additional funding will expand YouthWISE's reach and sustainability while keeping the model founder-led:

• Develop digital, mobile-accessible content – Create video-based modules, downloadable resources, and an online learning portal to extend the impact beyond in-person workshops.
• Package the programme for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Accreditation – Adapt the curriculum for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), enabling teachers, social workers, and youth professionals to benefit from accredited training in trauma-informed drug education.
• Increase regional reach – Fund additional travel and delivery to reach new schools in underserved areas across Scotland and England, building credibility for long-term contracts.
• Create educator toolkits – Develop simplified resources for teachers and youth workers to use before or after YouthWISE workshops, boosting impact and continuity.
• Invest in impact measurement – Strengthen monitoring and evaluation tools to track outcomes, support funding bids, and build an evidence base for national rollout.

Who’s Behind YouthWISE?

Thomas Delaney – Founder, Facilitator, and Public Speaker

• First-Class Honours Graduate in Community Development (University of Glasgow)
• Recipient of the Glasgow Excellence Award for academic excellence and progression
• Delivered talks to over 20 million people through events and social media platforms
• Collaborated with LADbible, BBC, NHS, The Epoch Times, and more
• Invited to speak at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and national mental health events

Thomas’s journey, from addiction and adversity to academic and professional excellence, informs every aspect of YouthWISE’s approach.  His mission: to empower youth and inspire change.

Timeline

Transparency & Impact

We’re committed to radical transparency:

• All contributors will receive updates throughout the campaign
• A full pilot impact report will be shared publicly
• We will regularly update our website and social channels with progress

YouthWISE is about prevention, empowerment, dignity, and social change.  We don’t scare young people; we equip them to thrive.

How You Can Help

• Fund – Choose a symbolic reward or donate freely
• Partner – Schools, councils, youth organisations - let’s collaborate
• Volunteer – Designers, writers, film editors, and social media support are welcome
• Share – Spread the word online via Instagram: @youthwise.org.uk
• Mentor – We welcome support from educators, policymakers, and public health professionals

Final Words

YouthWISE is built on lived experience, empathy, and evidence.  We believe that empowering young people creates ripples of change in families, schools, and communities.

With your support, we can bring this vision to life, one school, one conversation, one life at a time.

Let’s empower youth.  Let’s inspire change.

Necesidades del proyecto

Needs: Why We’re Asking for Your Support

YouthWISE is ready to move from vision to implementation, and your support will help make that possible.

We are requesting £10,000 to launch the pilot phase of our trauma-informed, lived-experience-led drug education programme.  These funds will enable us to deliver workshops, build critical infrastructure, and demonstrate real-world impact in high-need communities across Glasgow and South Yorkshire.

We’ve already developed the programme content, piloted mock workshops with outstanding feedback, and built a strong network of interested schools and stakeholders.  We need your help to bring it to life on a larger scale.

What will the funds be used for?

Why this amount?

This budget has been carefully planned to reflect only essential start-up costs.  As the sole facilitator, I (Thomas Delaney) am contributing:

• My time, expertise, and design work in-kind
• All curriculum content development
• Workshop facilitation and delivery
• Public speaking and outreach

I am not taking a salary from this funding—every penny is invested in maximising the impact for young people and ensuring that YouthWISE launches with integrity and sustainability.

What if we exceed the target?

If we raise more than £10,000, the additional funds will be used to strategically grow YouthWISE’s impact in scalable and sustainable ways, even with a solo founder.  Additional funds would support:

• CPD Accreditation – Packaging YouthWISE as a certified Continuous Professional Development training programme for teachers, youth workers, and professionals.
• Mobile-Accessible Learning Materials – Developing digital versions of our core curriculum to expand access to rural or remote schools.
• Expanded Travel & Outreach – Visiting more schools in high-need areas across the UK to widen our reach.
• Impact Evaluation – Building more substantial data collection and analysis tools to support long-term funding and policy advocacy.

What else do we need?

While financial support is critical, there are non-financial ways to support us, too.  We’re also looking for collaborators in areas such as:

• Graphic design (workbook layout, campaign visuals)
• Video editing (for our promo and workshop assets)
• Marketing support (especially with targeted outreach and social media campaigns)
• Mentorship (in scaling social enterprises, licensing, or education policy)
• Partnerships with schools, colleges, or councils
• Writers or editors to help shape toolkits, guides, and grant applications

We would love to connect if you or your organisation can help in any of these ways. You can reach us at hello@thomasdelaney.co.uk or follow us on Instagram at @youthwise.org.uk.

Radical Transparency

We believe that transparency builds trust, and trust builds movements.

Throughout the campaign, we will:

• Share progress updates publicly via our website and social media
• Send exclusive updates to all backers
• Publish a full impact report following the pilot delivery phase

We promise to use your contribution with care, accountability, and maximum impact.

Final Word

This campaign is about more than funding; it’s about building a movement.

Every contribution helps shift the narrative from punishment to possibility… from stigma to support… from surviving to thriving.

Together, we can ensure that every young person, no matter their background, has access to drug education that is honest, empowering, and rooted in real life.

Let’s empower youth.  Let’s inspire change.
Join us.