YouthWISE – Empowering Youth, Inspiring Change.

A collaborative movement to transform drug education in the UK.

What Are We Creating?

YouthWISE is a UK-based, trauma-informed, lived-experience-led social enterprise that delivers impactful, evidence-based drug education workshops to young people aged 11–18 .  Our mission is to equip young people with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and emotional tools to make informed choices, build resilience, and thrive despite adversity.

We operate in secondary schools, youth organizations, and local authorities , particularly in areas facing high levels of socioeconomic deprivation.  Through compelling storytelling, practical strategies, and critical dialogue, YouthWISE empowers young people to understand their experiences and challenge the systems that influence them.

Why This Matters?

In the UK, young people from the most socioeconomically deprived areas are up to 18 times more likely to use illicit substances . This is not a moral failing; it is often a social response to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), exclusion, poverty, and trauma. Most existing drug education is outdated, fear-based, and disconnected from real life.  

YouthWISE transforms that by:

• Being led by lived experience.
• Using trauma-informed methods.
• Prioritising empathy, safety, and honest dialogue.

WE DON'T PREACH. WE CONNECT, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER.

Who Benefits?

Young People (11–18) in schools, colleges, and youth services, especially in Glasgow and Yorkshire, where drug-related harm is consistently high. Teachers & Youth Workers seeking authentic, engaging, and curriculum-aligned resources. Communities, as better-informed and more resilient young people, reduce harm and strengthen local networks.

What Makes YouthWISE Unique?

• Authenticity – Led by Thomas Delaney, an academic from the University of Glasgow with lived experience of addiction and recovery, building trust instantly.
• Critical Dialogue – Inspired by Paulo Freire, we encourage young people to question stigma and think critically.
• Evidence-Based Design – Built from best practice in youth work, education, and public health.
• Social Enterprise Model – Sustainable, with a freemium/premium structure to maximise reach.
• Trauma-Informed Practice – Every session prioritises psychological safety, emotional regulation, and compassion.

Our Current Stage

We've run trial workshops with excellent feedback, have strong school and stakeholder interest, and have been named one of the top 60 international projects in the Santander X Explorer program . Our branding is ready, our networks are growing, and our website, www.youthwise.org.uk , will soon go live.

The Person Behind YouthWISE

Thomas Delaney – Founder & CEO, Academic, Facilitator, and Public Speaker .

• First-Class Honors in Community Development (University of Glasgow).
• Glasgow Excellence Award for academic excellence.
• Talks and content reaching over 20 million people worldwide.
• Featured by LADbible, BBC, NHS, The Epoch Times, and many more.
• Speaker at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and National Health & Wellbeing events across the UK.

Thomas's journey, from addiction and adversity to academic and professional success, shapes every workshop, inspiring youth to see new possibilities for themselves.

Join Us

• Collaborate – Partner with us to bring YouthWISE to your community.
• Contribute – Offer skills, venues, resources, or funding.
• Share – Spread the word online and offline.
• Mentor – Help us refine, adapt, and expand our impact.

YouthWISE is built on lived experience, empathy, and evidence. We believe that empowering young people creates ripples of change in families, schools, and communities.

With your support, we can bring this vision to life, one school, one conversation, one young person at a time.

LET'S EMPOWER YOUTH, LET'S INSPIRE CHANGE.

Project needs

What We're Looking For

We are no longer aiming for a specific financial target; this has become a collaborative effort. Your support can come in various forms:

Financial Support:  Contribute towards program materials, travel, website enhancements, and creative resources.

In-Kind Support:

Venues – Schools, youth centres, and community halls for workshops.

Creative Skills – Designers, filmmakers, content creators, and marketing experts.

Educational Resources  – Printing, stationery, and digital tools.

Transport & Logistics  – Support with travel to reach more schools.

Partnerships:  Collaborations with schools, councils, youth organizations, and public health bodies to integrate YouthWISE workshops into existing wellbeing strategies.

Mentorship & Expertise:  Input from educators, policymakers, researchers, and public health professionals to strengthen and scale the program.

Our Vision for Collaboration

We believe drug education is most powerful when developed collaboratively, with communities, educators, and young people all having a voice. Every contribution, whether it's a skill, resource, contact, or financial gift, will directly help YouthWISE help more young people.

We Will:

• Keep all collaborators updated with progress reports.
• Share impact stories and evaluation findings openly.
• Acknowledge contributions on our platforms (unless anonymity is preferred).