About Us
We Believe
- One of the most effective ways for young people to change their outlook on life is through positive experiences away from their everyday environment.
- Young people are often unsure of their own potential or how to achieve it: they need continual encouragement and practical empowerment within a supportive community.
- From the age of about 16, young people tend to become more ready for learning: they should be helped to take responsibility for their own development.
- Young people themselves are the most effective agents of influence and change within their peer groups.
- Shared experience and friendship with people from other cultures is the key to an open mind and a more tolerant society.
- Nikola, Montenegro
Our Aims
- To enable young people to expand their horizons and aspirations, give them a positive direction and help them prepare for working life.
- To increase young people’s participation in international projects and exchanges.
- To empower and motivate young people in their home community through local projects and groups.
- To cultivate an international network of similarly motivated young people.
- To recognise, value and celebrate young people’s positive contribution to society.
- To add value to the work of other educational and youth organisations.
- Rebecca, UK
Our Values and Principles
- Participation and empowerment of young people
- An integrated and multidisciplinary approach: we tend not to work on single issues or with narrowly defined special interest groups
- Interest in innovative approaches to youth issues
- Openness to different ideas and cooperation with other organisations
- Respect for diversity
- Equal opportunity and inclusion
Momentum is not connected to any particular group or geographical region. We have no political or religious affiliation, and are committed to the personal development of all young people regardless of social, cultural, economic or other circumstances.
- Allie, UK
Our Experience
Momentum is built on an extensive track record, encompassing management of international and intercultural youth projects, large scale residential youth events and summer schools, practical youth and community work, outdoor education, youth film and digital media, strategic planning, project design and evaluation, and financial and business management. Please read more about our previous projects.
Management Team
Andrew Hadley – CEO. Andrew worked as a freelance consultant before joining forces with Paul Oxborough and Trevor Keough to set up Momentum. He specialises in strategic development of international and intercultural youth activities and networks, project evaluation and youth event management. He previously worked for the British Council, and has lived in France, Turkey, Ethiopia, Greece, China and Macedonia, where he devised and developed the acclaimed Blue Sky youth network, in addition to numerous other international youth projects. In 2005 Andrew was awarded the MBE for his international work with young people.
Trevor Keough – Operations Director. After training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Trevor spent his early working life in the Army. He was mostly employed in the field of operations and training in various places around the world, including West Berlin, West Germany, Canada, Belize and the Falkland Islands as well as the UK. After a career spanning 18 years, he left military service to set up the Glaramara Outdoor Adventure Centre in the Lake District National Park. With the help of others he developed Glaramara into one of the most successful privately owned outdoor centres in the UK. Trevor has worked with young people in many different countries and has been heavily involved in organising UK based international youth events, with a focus on outdoor activity programmes. As a trainer he specialises in business and enterprise, and team development.
Paul Oxborough – Creative Director. Paul is a highly experienced, professionally qualified youth and community worker. He has worked for a number of local education authorities in the UK as a full time school based youth worker and staff development trainer. In 2000 he set up an independent consultancy business specialising in youth and community development, principally through film and media. The has led to over 90 award winning social documentary films and projects with an extensive range of social groups. Paul has also acted as a consultant to youth media projects in other countries including the Balkans (where he set up the ground-breaking international award winning Cre8ive 8 youth film project), and more recently Ethiopia and the USA.
Associate Staff
In addition to our management team and other staff, we work with a number of carefully selected professional associates, usually commissioned for the duration of a particular project or event as trainers, facilitators or mentors, or to meet other operational needs. These associates come from a wide variety of backgrounds, representing business, education, arts and other sectors, as well as different nationalities and ethnic communities. Where appropriate we may also employ young people who have completed our programmes. We are supported by an active team of volunteers.
Protection of Young People
The physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of young people is our top priority. Anyone who works with us is required to sign and then work to our Code of Conduct, policies and procedures. In addition, those who work directly with young people are subject to additional checks (e.g. CRB). We carry out appropriate and relevant risk assessments for all our activities.
Our Status
We are a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee. Any operational financial surplus generated will be re-invested in the Company and not distributed to shareholders.
