IYVS is independent by design, collaborative by choice. We work with organisations, volunteers, researchers, and advocates who share our commitment to improving SEN support in youth volunteering.
Partnerships take many forms — from formal collaboration to research partnerships to sector-wide advocacy coalitions.
Types of Partnerships
Sector-Specific Collaboration
We work with youth organisations (Scouts, Guides, and others) to build SEN support capacity. This might include:
- Co-designing training for volunteers
- Auditing current practices for inclusion
- Developing SEN-specific guidance
- Supporting policy change within organisations
Research & Evidence-Building
We collaborate with researchers and academics to understand gaps in SEN youth volunteering and build evidence for what works. This includes:
- Research on volunteer experiences and needs
- Evaluation of alternative provision models (like Zanshin)
- Data on barriers to inclusion
- Policy analysis and recommendations
Advocacy & Systems Change
We partner with advocates, policy organisations, and sector bodies to push for systemic improvements. This includes:
- Joint campaigns for policy change
- Sector-wide advocacy coalitions
- Thought leadership and publications
- Building the case for investment in SEN provision
Programme & Service Delivery
We partner with organisations to co-deliver programmes or services that support volunteers and young people. Examples include:
- Shared training delivery
- Joint grant programmes
- Coordinated navigation support
- Complementary service provision
Current Partners
We're building partnerships across the sector. Our current collaborators include:
- Scouting UK & local Scout groups — Supporting SEN inclusion in Scouting
- Guiding UK & local Guide units — Building capacity for neurodivergent participants
- Archery GB — Supporting Zanshin's registration and development
- Academic researchers — Evaluating alternative provision and volunteer experiences
- Sector advocacy bodies — Collaborating on systems change
We're always looking to expand our partnership network. If your organisation shares our commitment, we'd like to hear from you.
Why Partnership Matters
We don't believe IYVS alone can solve this. Systemic change requires:
- Diverse perspectives: Different organisations see different angles of the problem
- Shared resources: Collaboration stretches funding and expertise
- Evidence & learning: Partnerships help us build knowledge about what works
- Credibility & influence: Collective voices are louder in advocacy
- Sustainability: Partnership-based work lasts longer than siloed efforts
Interest in Partnering?
If you're interested in exploring a partnership with IYVS, we'd like to talk. Potential partners might include:
- Youth organisations at local or national level
- Researchers and academic institutions
- Disability and neurodiversity advocacy groups
- Funding bodies and trusts
- Policy and sector-wide bodies
- Other social enterprises working in complementary areas
Get in touch to discuss:
- Where your interests and ours align
- What partnership could look like
- How we can work together toward systemic change