News & Stories

Máire and Abdourahman are Agency Correspondents and Alumni Agents from Belfast and Southampton respectively. They share their journeys through the programme and insights they’ve gained from creating projects to bring positive change in their communities. They also reflect on how their personal experiences have informed their outlook as both changemakers and storytellers.

Black History Month exists for good reason, to push back against centuries of erasure. But at The Agency, we refuse to act like Black excellence only deserves 31 days of airtime. 

Max Wiseman recently stepped into the new role of Digital Storyteller. Max participated as an Agent in 2023-2024 and has since gone on to work as a Trainee Facilitator and create the podcast ‘Inspire to Achieve: The Agency’ for voices throughout our network to share their experiences with The Agency. 

Alumni Agents are taking centre stage! We are welcoming more Alumni into key leadership roles – shaping the programme from within and carrying its mission into the future.

Kristy, our National Team Coordinator, joined The Agency in 2024, bringing cool, calm energy to the table. She helps to ensure the smooth delivery of our mission across all 6 locations in the UK and Northern Ireland.

Thank you for everything, Agency family. I’m so proud of what we’ve built together, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

“The Agency evolves based on the people who come into contact with it. The methodology isn’t just a process; it’s something we embody, and the ecosystem shifts as new voices shape it. But most of all, it’s the relationships. The Agency doesn’t just let go!”

“I see my role as being the support system. If you need a word of advice, a cry, a laugh, a reminder, I'm here to encourage and keep us going.”

“Watching a young person present their project at a community event and seeing the pride in their family’s and peers’ faces was incredibly moving”…

Many communities, particularly in Southampton and Manchester, are grappling with anti-social behaviour, crime, and the social conditions that allow these issues to persist. But beyond the statistics, there’s something deeper - a strong desire for change and a belief that things can improve.

“Despite there being such a specific methodology to follow, it still allows the young people to have complete freedom and agency over what they want to do and how they want to create positive change in their community.”…

Through network mapping, we linked up a range of voices, including local organisations, young people, parents and many more. Tapping into networks as a team formed new relationships, allowing us to engage with new people and strengthen community ties.

This year, we’re excited to introduce 16 Steering Group members, a mix of fresh and returning voices, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives to the table.

Introducing this year’s incredible Agents - a group of bold, unstoppable changemakers from across the UK. Armed with creativity, resilience, and big ideas, they’re tackling the issues that matter most, and doing it with passion and purpose.

The Agency was groundbreaking for me, as I was able to find my potential! My project has grown from a small idea, earning more money, to having a positive effect within my wider community.

The Agency has been a game-changer for me, both personally and professionally. It’s given me confidence and the skills to take an idea from concept to completion.

The Agency taught me how to be a trailblazer for myself. It showed me how to advocate for my ideas and take up space without feeling like an imposter.

Q: Leon, if you were to write a book about your life, what would the title be?

Leon: From hood ute, to good ute.

The Agency has been one of the best experiences for me. It’s changed me for the better, and I'm incredibly grateful. It’s a reminder that opportunities like this can come your way and make a huge, positive impact on your life.

They inspired me to be better, they inspired me to want more, they inspired me to be fearless in my pursuits and for that I will forever be grateful.

The profound impact the programme has had on youth entrepreneurship and community development over the past decade

At The Agency, we're passionate about empowering young people to make a positive impact in their communities. Our latest initiative, the Voter Registration Project, is a testament to this commitment.

In a world that can feel quite dark, with mounting pressures from fuel poverty, climate change and geographic and political instability, our agents are enabled to harness creativity as the tool for fresh thinking and positive change. For 10 years across the UK, The Agency has proven time and again that no problem can be too big for a creative rethink.

The Agency has demonstrated real value in the communities of Southampton, delivered with the belief is that young people know best what their communities need. Through a series of exciting, creative activities, they inspire young people to express their ideas for social change and gain the tools and mindset to put them into action.

In 2019, Agency participants from Manchester and London presented to politicians and policy-makers at the Houses of Parliament, speaking about their projects and the impact of the programme on their communities.