We want our young people to flourish
Our Future Now is Inspiring Scotland’s fund aimed specifically at supporting young people into education, employment or training.
The successor fund to 14:19, Our Future Now builds on a 10-year track record in helping to reduce youth unemployment, working with 12 high performing and high potential charities active across 24 geographical areas.
Exceptionally well-placed to make lasting changes in young people’s lives, these charities support young people in their communities and schools, at home, and in their workplaces.
Action is more important than ever
When the 14:19 Fund concluded in 2019, youth unemployment had reached a record low. But for a significant minority of young people in Scotland life was getting harder. Too many young people were still being excluded from the opportunity to fulfil their potential due to circumstances beyond their control and largely attributed to poverty.
The needs of young people are now even greater, and if they are not rapidly engaged in positive activity that re-skills and prepares them for the post COVID-19 job market, they will be at risk of scarring which can last for generations.
We have a track record over 10 years in reducing youth unemployment through the last recession. The OFN portfolio has not stopped supporting and responding. Their commitment is as clear as is our need to act.
We've done it before
Between 2008 and 2018, the charities we supported through the 14:19 Fund helped 36,000 young people into education, employment or training.
After the financial crash of 2008 and the difficult years that followed, the number of unemployed people in Scotland rose above 70,000. But by 2018, Scotland had some of the lowest youth unemployment numbers in Europe. Our 14:19 Fund was part of a huge effort to bring those numbers down.
Our collective impact changed the lives of not only 36,000 young people who reached a positive destination, but tens of thousands of others who gained the confidence and skills to begin that journey. Our 14:19 Fund was a global first, remains a benchmark, and is unequalled in terms of investment raised, scale, and impact achieved.
Find out more
Read Inspiring Scotland Chief Executive Celia Tennant’s blog on how Our Future Now can rise to the challenge of youth unemployment post-COVID-19.
Read our Annual Impact Report:
Year four: Our Future Now Annual Impact Report for 2022 – 2023
Year three: Â Our Future Now Annual Impact Report for 2021 – 2022
Year two: Â Our Future Now Annual Impact Report for 2020-21.
Year one:Â Our Future Now Fund Report for 2019-20
Read our latest insight papers:
- Falling Through the Cracks  an insight report on the needs and response needed to support young people.
- Employer Links an insight report the importance of employer engagement in enabling young people with the most challenging lives to compete in the face of fewer opportunities and greater competition for jobs.
- Disadvantaged Young people: the depth of the impact of Covid-19 our insight paper on the impact and needs of young people
Our Future Now
Portfolio Charities
Our Future Now
Aberdeen Foyer
Aberdeen Foyer provides housing support to young people aged 16 years and over in crisis situations. This core service is complemented by a holistic range of programs including money management, employability initiatives and counselling. Investment supports those aged 16-25 who have been, or are at risk of, exclusion from education and supports the provision of
Learn More
Our Future Now
Action for Children
Action for Children delivers services aimed at young people who are unemployed and who may have other issues restricting their ability to access the job market. OFN investment supports a number of important programmes that improve young people’s ability to move into a positive destination such as Youthbuild, Hospitality, Aiming High and STAY. CashBack for
Learn More
Our Future Now
Calman Trust Ltd
Calman Trust (‘Calman’) is a young people’s service based in the Highlands that offers a range of support and learning opportunities to enable young people to manage the challenges that could hold them back in their transition to independent living and the world of work. Depending on their needs and choices, young people can progress
Learn MoreContact us
We work with experts from the voluntary, public, private and academic sectors. Get in touch if you want to help us build a better Scotland.
Contact usA note on privacy
Inspiring Scotland will only use the personal details you provide here to respond to your enquiry and will not use them for any purpose, unless you give permission and agreed during any follow-up discussions.
Your details will be held on the server of our third party website provider host for 3 months but not for longer than is necessary, and will not be added to any marketing databases. By completing this form you are agreeing to the terms of Inspiring Scotland’s Privacy Statement