Evaluating the Npower Business Solutions Foundation funded Venturists

The Venturists youth action programme began in 2020 to add a further innovative strand to Participate Projects’ work in finding, exploring and supporting ideas that contribute positively towards people, place and planet. Participate recognises that young people often think creatively and without the constraints of practicalities and the Venturists programme harnesses this creativity by encouraging them to explore issues in their local community and develop ideas about how to tackle them. The Venturists includes school-based sessions, inspirational talks and trips involving a wide range of local organisations, and the infamous ‘Dragons’ Den’ where students pitch their ideas to try and secure funding for them. Importantly, students then go on to deliver their projects often with significant impacts for the school, community and / or local organisations. Npower Business Solutions Foundation funding has enabled the Venturists programme to be run in 5 primary schools and Bradford College between January and July 2025. These programmes have been focused on sustainability and environmental solutions in line with the funding aims.