Billionaire philanthropist John Caudwell has launched a new charity offering youth mentoring support after a similar voluntary organisation was forced to close.

The new charity called Caudwell Youth launched this month and offers volunteer mentoring support to 11- to 24-year-olds for up to two years.

Caudwell is the founder and patron of the new charity, which is being run by members of the leadership team of the charity Transitions UK, which went into administration this year.

Former Transitions UK partnerships director Karen Ironside takes the same role at Caudwell Youth, former senior project manager at Transitions UK Charlie Dixon-Prior becomes operations director, meanwhile the former charity’s project development manager Jake Brown becomes Caudwell Youth’s R&D director.

Also joining the founding leadership team at Caudwell Youth is supporter engagement director Lisa Ball.

“I recently heard about a charity in trouble. Its demise would've meant the loss of a vital service for at-risk young people. I had to help,” said Caudwell.

This is the third charity set up by former Phones4u founder Caudwell, who has promised to donate 70% of his wealth to charity.

Caudwell Youth currently works across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes and aims to become a national charity.

Young people being supported by Caudwell Youth include those with mental health problems, experience of care or at risk of offending or exploitation.

Caudwell has pledged to match fund a third of all annual budgeted income from its second year of operating, covering most of the charity’s core costs. In the first year he is supporting set-up costs.

I recently heard about a charity in trouble. Its demise would've meant the loss of a vital service for at-risk young people.

I had to help. Today, working with a highly experienced leadership, I'm delighted to launch @CaudwellYouth, giving those affected a fighting chance. 1/ pic.twitter.com/b0QBWuPP8h

— John Caudwell (@JohnDCaudwell) November 24, 2022

“At a time when the system is struggling, Caudwell Youth has been created so young people don’t have to,” added Caudwell.

“Young people are increasingly being let down by the system as preventative work is being side-lined caused by budgetary restraints.

“And with rapidly increasing waiting lists for the likes of mental health support, Caudwell Youth helps to bridge the gap when statutory bodies are overwhelmed.”

Transitions UK worked with 14–25-year-olds, with mental health issues, learning disabilities, care leavers and those at risk of exclusion and offending, offering befriending and mentoring support.

Its most recent accounts for the year ending May 2021 show its income was £485,496, including £66,000 from four government contracts and £12,000 from three government grants, and its spending was £459,117.

“John’s financial commitment provides Caudwell Youth with the stability that is needed, and usually inaccessible to charities, to enhance the charity’s impact,” said Dixon-Prior.

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