YOU West Midlands offers an opportunity to make positive changes to your life and future; to find new real friends; to have exciting and sometimes challenging adventures and experiences; to develop a multitude of skills and abilities; and to help others.
YOUTH ORGANISATIONS IN UNIFORM
We work together to realise a shared aim of offering young people quality opportunities to achieve their full potential.
If you’re under 18 and want to get the most out of your life, this could just be it. And if you’re over 18, there are tremendously rewarding spare time roles as an Adult Instructor. The organisations that make up YOU West Midlands are already giving tens of thousands of young people of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton the time of their lives.
The Organisations
Discover and Develop
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to level up, YOU WM is here to support your journey.
We help young people across the West Midlands uncover their potential and build the confidence, skills, and mindset to thrive. From creative projects and leadership training to community initiatives and personal growth programmes, we offer practical ways to discover what matters to you—and develop the tools to go after it.
We don’t just talk about change—we help you make it happen.
Ready to explore who you are and what you care about?
Our programmes for under 18s help you build confidence, find your voice, and take action in your school, community, or beyond. Whether it’s creative expression, social action, or leadership, we’ll help you grow—and have fun doing it.
Looking to take your next step?
We support young adults through mentoring, training, and opportunities that develop real-world skills and a sense of purpose. Whether you’re aiming to lead, work in your community, or simply find your direction, we’ll walk with you on the journey.
Whatever your background, there’s a place for you here.
Our projects bring people together across age, culture, and experience to learn from each other, challenge injustice, and create lasting change. Everyone has something to offer—and something to gain.
Did you see @youwestmidlands Young People meeting the Mayor as part of our shared projects with West Midlands Combined Authorities?
Fun fact : young people who are part of Uniformed Youth Organisations often have an edge when applying to University or Apprenticeships. By volunteering you gain a range of experiences and have the chance to access CV and skill boosting opportunities.
Repost • @westmids_ca Young people across the West Midlands are gaining confidence, skills and experience through uniformed volunteering.
The Mayor visited cadets in Tipton to see how a WMCA-supported programme is helping more than 500 young people across 50 schools build the skills they need for future careers.
Our Summer Of Fun has only Just Begun!! ☀️
We kicked off the summer celebrations, sharing smiles and celebrating young people at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping of the Colour 👑 but we know the summer fun doesn’t stop there !
Our Uniformed Youth Organisations have loads in store with adventure camps and activity days to make memories that last a lifetime ✨
📲If you are a member of a uniformed youth organisation and have a summer adventure story to share contact our youth engagement coordinator 📧 ChloeAnn@youwm.org.uk or DM us on instagram @youwestmidlands
One of Our Young Trustees Izzy has been out and about this summer with Cadets, Scouts and Guides at Trouping of the Colour.
As a Young Trustee Izzy, alongside fellow Young Trustee Mia, bring a unique skillset and youth voice perspective to our team , leading the charity with a development-focused and innovative mindset .
Here’s what she shared from her Royal Day Out “Trooping the Colour 2026 was a remarkable display of ceremonial precision, where every movement, every uniform, and every note of the music reflected centuries of discipline and national pride.”
Trooping of the colour captured with @stjohn_ambulance 🚑
Amazing day for an incredible group of young people who all volunteer their time to support communities and save lives .
Here’s what Cadet of the Year Tyler had to say about their day at the palace :
“Trooping of the Colour was such an unbelievable opportunity, a day full of fun, laughs and joy by all cadets and youth leaders alike. It was such an honour to be able to attend such a prestigious event especially during my year as County Cadet of the Year for Warwickshire and Coventry, to be able to represent cadets from across the whole county. It was such a phenominal experience and it was lovely to be recognised for my dedication to St John Ambulance.”
Once-in-lifetime opportunities don’t happen without the Youth Leaders who make them happen 🌟 Adult volunteers play a vital role in supporting and inspiring our Young People to exceed their own expectations and the achieve futures they dream of!
@matrixacademytrust ‘s Flying Officer S Kendall is no exception, giving up his time to volunteer for @cadetsinschools .
Here’s what he had to say about their time at the Colonel’s Review and the opportunities CCF provides to learn outside of the classroom.
“Attending the Colonel’s Review ahead of Trooping the Colour was a truly memorable experience and a privilege for our cadets and staff. The professionalism, precision and sense of tradition on display were outstanding and provided a powerful reminder of the values and standards that underpin service to our nation.
As the Senior School Staff Instructor for Matrix Academy Trust Combined Cadet Force, I am incredibly proud that our young people have opportunities to witness events of this significance. Experiences such as the Colonel’s Review bring history, leadership and citizenship to life in a way that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom.
Matrix Academy Trust is one of the largest academy trusts in the Midlands, serving thousands of young people across multiple secondary schools. Through our Combined Cadet Force programme, we aim to provide cadets with opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, resilience, confidence and a strong sense of service to their communities.
Events such as the Colonel’s Review demonstrate to our cadets the importance of commitment, discipline and pride in representing something bigger than themselves. They also allow young people to engage with British heritage and ceremonial traditions whilst gaining valuable experiences that will support them in education, employment and life beyond school.
For many of our cadets, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that will undoubtedly inspire them for years to come. We are grateful to all those involved in making the experience possible and for continuing to support opportunities that help young people realise their potential”
