Our founder
We were founded by Matt Lent. He has 30 years experience working with and for young people and youth charities. He has worked as a street-based youth worker, a community worker in youth residential settings, as a Director of local youth and community centres, and as a senior leader and Chief Executive of youth and education organisations including, ThinkForward, UK Youth and Future First.
Drawing on his own personal experience, Matt says that at the age of 18 he had no idea what he was going to do with his life, but what he did benefit from was a supportive and caring network that he was able and willing to access. He was exposed to a variety of options, potential pathways, and trusted adults, empowering him with choice and self-determinism. This kind of social capital, for Matt and thousands of others, is what provided the stable foundations needed towards a fulfilling career, independence and financial stability. Matt says that it was because of these informal support networks that he was able to identify and meet his personal challenges head-on, develop broad horizons, and meet people in jobs to which he could realistically aspire.
Despite not having any qualifications to speak of at 18 years old, Matt was lucky to be given, through his networks, the motivation to succeed and the confidence to achieve, with access to suitable opportunities to meet his raised aspirations.
Replicating these opportunities for young people less fortunate is what drives him and his work at Youth Social Capital.
Youth Social Capital 