Future Communities Collective

We believe co-operation is at the heart of strong communities and this makes us a different kind of funder. We work closely with communities, we listen and we learn. That’s why we asked young people to shape our vision for fairer, more co-operative communities. They’re the next generation of leaders and pioneers.

Our Future Communities Collective, facilitated by HUDL Youth Development Agency, is one way we’re working with and helping to develop young leaders.

These young people will:

• lead on allocating funding through our Future Communities Fund.
• help us to to develop work towards our priorities laid out within our new strategy
• challenge us, providing and embedding a youth perspective into how we work.
• feed into fund priorities and communications

Meet the collective

Louis Groarke, he/him

Louis is an experienced young CEO and youth advisor, he has been involved in local and national youth advisory and youth action work since the age of 13.

He is currently studying Law at the University of Buckingham and is hoping to pursue a career in corporate law and possibly legal research.

When he was 16 Louis was also appointed as the Vice Chair of the Climate Emergency Commission for Warrington Borough Council. Louis also has experience of working nationally with the Bank of England on their youth forum and the Co-op Foundation as a member of a Youth Advisory Group prior to Future Communities Collective.

Locally, Louis has worked in partnership with his local authority and a range of local services too.

Yasmin Hewitt, she/her

Yasmin is enrolled in an Undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds studying for a BA History and works full time in the marketing department at Co-op.

She has been enrolled in youth action since the age of 15, representing the UK in the 2015 WSJ in Japan – an event that aims to bring 80,000 global activists together cultivating a spirit of unity and working together to discuss world issues. She also sat on her community council as a Youth Representative as well as the board for the community institute.

In 2022 she sat on the Co-op Young Members Group and has championed the voices of young people in discussions across the business, with a particular focus on charity partnerships.

Zakaria Mohamood, he/him

Zakaria Mohamood is a student from Bristol studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Cardiff University. He has a strong passion for STEM and how we can use it to create positive social impact.

Zakaria has also benefited from workshops run by Babbasa to develop presentation and communication skills to enable him to work to tackle issues that young people like himself face.

Zakaria loves to get involved in positive social impact work where he can aid disadvantaged young people from backgrounds like his.

Zakaria loves to watch and participate in sports and is a big Arsenal fan.

Saffai Powell, she/her

Saffai is currently on a Gap year. She has participated in STEM based programmes as well as cyber security where she hopes to study this similar field of interest in the near future. This will enable her to use these transferable skills to solve cases that matter today for instance, security within commercial businesses and how data should be protected within certain environments.

She describes herself as organised, open minded and tenacious.

She has participated in previous work experience at a sustainable engineering company from a young age and has worked within the pharmaceutical industry.

Keshon Smith, he/him

Keshon is a National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) qualified paralegal, reading Law at SOAS University of London, aspiring towards a career at the English Bar.

He volunteers with criminal legal aid firms in his local area, providing administrative support to otherwise overburdened legal aid practitioners.

Keshon is due to begin training as a Police Station Representative to further develop his professional profile.

He has assisted on two previous funds: the Youth Opportunity Fund for the Wandsworth Council and the We Move Fund alongside Hudl for BBC Children in Need. He is also a Trustee for the migrant charity We Belong.

Fatima Ishaq, she/her

Fatima is an activist; passionate in supporting others to reach their potential, and in supporting communities to use their agency and drive change.

She has been involved in youth voice and campaigning for a number of years, most recently as a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

She is also a social work student – committed to social justice – and works in the third sector, with experience in many collaborative projects.

In her spare time she enjoys travelling and connecting with nature, spending time with loved ones and cooking.

Phoebe Teasdale, she/her

Phoebe is a youth activist who is particularly passionate about elevating the voices of autistic young people and is also an environmental/climate activist.

She is also a second-year History and Politics student at Lancaster University.

Phoebe is a Fulbright Scholar and alumni of the US Department of State having completed the SUSI for Student Leaders program in the USA.

She was previously a UK Youth ambassador for WWF and the deputy member of youth parliament for Middlesbrough. 

Lavanya Manobharath, she/her

Lavanya Manobharath is an Education activist who is passionate about enabling access to quality education for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. She is specifically interested in early childhood education. She is currently working as a programmes coordinator  for IntoUniversity – a higher education charity. 

 She is also a Global Youth Ambassador of Their World ( A charity focusing on Early Childhood Education), a consultant for the young Gamechangers Fund, a research Hub member at Thrive CIC and a Philosophy and Theology graduate from the University of Bristol.

Previously, she had sat as a steering group member for My Life My Say, ‘ Give an X’ campaign which encouraged young people across the UK to vote. 

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attempting to learn new skills and playing badminton.

Finlay Anderson, he/him

Finlay is an Undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh studying LLB Law.

Based in Dumfries and Galloway in the Southwest of Scotland. He is committed to making a positive impact in his community through his interest in social justice, rights advocacy, and policy development, all of which he has actively engaged with through his extensive volunteering experiences. Finlay has also participated in many forms of local and national government, advocacy work, and youth participation.

Currently, Finlay is an #IWill Scotland ambassador and is a member of the mobilisation group that works to lead the #IWIll Movement. He’s a board trustee for Partners in Advocacy as well as being a member of the RNIB Scotland advisory group.

Formerly, Finlay was a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Young Advisor for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland and Chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council.

Ailís Keyes, they/them

Ailís is a youth activist currently studying Environmental Geoscience at the University of Edinburgh. Originally from Ireland, they are an active promoter of inclusivity and youth empowerment, with a specific commitment to climate justice and LGBTQ+ issues. Ailís has been a deep advocate for system change since their teens, when they took an active role within climate justice organising on a local, national, and international level.

More recently, Ailís has focused on promoting intersectionality and joy through communications and media, organising with Young Friends of the Earth Scotland and People and Planet. They were previously Communications Lead for Polluters Out and Campaign Coordinator for Teach the Teacher.

In their free time, Ailís can be found playing both Scotland and Ireland’s national sports: Shinty and Camogie.

Oluwaseni Emmanuel Akano, he/him

Emmanuel is a dedicated and motivated individual with a strong passion for community engagement and social impact.

A recent graduate with a BSc in Human Geography and Planning which has provided a strong foundation in understanding the complexities of community dynamics, and social justice issues.

With a keen interest in sustainability, housing, and social justice, Emmanuel has developed skills in research and effective communication.

They are committed to making a positive difference in their community and are excited to bring their enthusiasm to the Future Communities Collective.

Semirah Hart, she/her

Semirah is currently studying Politics and International Relations at Sheffield University. With a background in campaigning through The Advocacy Academy, a grassroots youth organising movement based in Brixton, she helped create Brixton Friends Against Immigration Raids which aimed to raise the issue of migrant rights on the government’s agenda. She is passionate about social justice and amplifying marginalised voices.

Semirah is particularly interested in the issue of environmental inequality in cities across the UK, researching whether there is a correlation between deprivation levels and quality of green spaces in her local area.

In the future, Semirah looks forward to pursuing a career in international politics focusing on sustainability and development. Outside of her studies, Semirah enjoys going to gigs, visiting galleries and museums and going out with friends and family.

Neylia M, she/her

Neylia is a passionate youth advocate with extensive experience in healthcare and community initiatives. As the first youth governor and a long term youth ambassador for her local hospital, she has played a key role in representing young people’s voices within healthcare.

Neylia’s involvement extends to her work with the National Youth Agency as a youth project assessor, where she assesses funding needs for new buildings in youth centres. Additionally, her role with Unloc has involved planning strategic campaigns to support disadvantaged students, working closely with colleges and community groups to rewrite nationwide policies.

Neylia has also contributed to medical research as an advisory board member, focusing on youth health education. She is dedicated to empowering young people through active participation in decision making, ensuring their voices are heard in healthcare, education, and beyond.

Ladajah Wilson, she/her

Ladajah is currently pursuing her law degree at the London School of Economics (LSE) as a Laidlaw Scholar. With a background in youth advocacy, she serves as a Youth Campaigns Officer for Living Streets, where she champions the importance of safe and accessible streets for young people. Ladajah is passionate about social justice and empowering underrepresented voices, particularly focusing on ethnic disparities in youth unemployment.

 She has been actively involved with organisations like Groundwork’s Youth Advisory Board and the Youth Future Foundation’s Future Voices Group, where she advocates for young people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Ladajah is particularly interested in the intersection of law, social justice, and urban development. Her work aims to ensure that young people have a say in shaping their communities and that their perspectives are valued in decision-making processes.

In the future, Ladajah looks forward to pursuing a career that combines her legal expertise with her passion for youth empowerment and social change.

Suranne Perera, she/her

Suranne is an undergraduate studying sociology, politics and religion at King’s College London.

Having previously held a position within the Co-op as the Member pioneer for Eltham and Well Hall, she collaborated with her local Co-op outlets and not-for-profit charities & organisations for the betterment of her community, managing both annual and one off grant schemes to help fund projects aimed at broader social good. Some of these projects included: helping to fund and garner support for a Parkinson’s group’s weekly activity sessions, supporting CEYP and Greenwich Foodbank and sponsoring track workshops for young athletes.

By supporting national initiatives such as Great Big Green week and Time to Talk day, Suranne has also held workshops in local community centres to promote sustainability and the importance of mental health- her work rooted in a strong belief in the importance of representation and inclusivity, as showcased in SE9 magazine.

Jacob Blythe, he/him

Jacob is studying History, Politics and English Language at Newcastle Sixth Form College. He is also doing an EPQ about the influence Hollywood movies have had on the perception of the historical cowboy.

This is Jacob’s first exposure to a youth-led initiative however he has grown up in an environment where youth work and volunteering was commonplace. Jacob has been a member of the student councils in both primary and secondary school and has also participated in a number of volunteering opportunities, most notably for Leonard Cheshire and the YMCA. He is passionate about ensuring youth voices are heard so that they may influence the livelihoods of youths for the better. 

In the future, Jacob hopes to pursue History at University. He is not yet sure which Uni he would like to attend but he is in the process of narrowing down his options. Outside of his studies, Jacob enjoys reading fantasy novels, listening to metal music and playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends.

Hannah Ringane, she/her

Hannah is a passionate advocate for social justice, with a focus on racial equality, youth empowerment, and community transformation. 

With a track record of founding and leading the anti-racist youth collective UKII in the Midlands, Hannah has led transformative events such as the region’s largest demonstration and developed resources to embed anti-racism across schools and workplaces. She also co-edited Outspkn, a zine showcasing the experiences of Black, queer, disabled youth, which has gained recognition in select bookstores and educational libraries.

Her professional experience spans policy analysis/research at the Civil Service, project coordination with Sub-Sahara Advisory Panel, and advisory roles at Cardiff University on race equality. 

Currently studying a Masters in Inequalities and Social Sciences at London School of Economics, Hannah hopes to deepen her knowledge to help disadvantaged communities thrive. 

Find out more about how we’re sharing power with young people by emailing Louise, Head of Funding and Partnerships.