HUDL Up

Keji and Floree return for Episode 10 to bring the first series of HUDL Up full circle. After opening the series with their own journeys and connection to HUDL, they reflect on the conversations, projects, teams and themes that have shaped the podcast so far, from shared power and youth participation to care, belonging, transitions, programme delivery and collective change. This episode introduces...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore what it really means to navigate transitions with Dan Seifu and Melanie (Mel) Da Silva Pinto. Dan reflects on his journey from the first cohort of the Involving Young People’s Collective (IYPC) to his current roles in the sector, covering grantmaking and governance, while Mel shares what it feels like to be on the edge of her own transition, approaching the e...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore what happens when young people transition from participating in youth programmes to designing and delivering them. Betty Mayo, Kimberly Garande, Louis Peters, Teian Roberts and Thalia Papanicolaou, who are all HUDL Associates, reflect on their journeys into the organisation. Many of them first connected with HUDL as participants in programmes like the Involvi...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore what it really means for young people to share power in grantmaking and how trauma-informed practice can shape the way those decisions are made. Suranne, Phoebe, Ladajah and Fatima from the Future Communities Collective reflect on their experiences working alongside the Co-op Foundation to design and deliver funding that supports young people across the UK, i...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore the journey of the Future Communities Collective: from its beginnings, to its impact, and to what comes next as members transition on. Louise Snelders from the Co-op Foundation is joined by Keshon, Zak and Saffai, outgoing members of the Future Communities Collective. Together, they reflect on how the Collective was formed, why the Co-op Foundation chose to w...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore what joy, care and belonging actually look like in practice. Dan, Shirley and Chelbi from the Involving Young People’s Collective (IYPC) join our host Keji to reflect on how three years in the Collective have shaped their understanding of care, challenged their assumptions about professionalism, and influenced how they now show up in their careers and as lead...

In this episode of HUDL Up, we explore the story behind the Involving Young People Collective (IYPC): how it began, why it matters, and how it’s influencing the way major funders work with young people. Catherine Hillis, Director of A Fairer Future at the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, is joined by Kimberly Garande, a former member of the IYPC, and Ines Hart, a current member. Together, they reflect...

In Episode Three of HUDL Up, we turn our focus to HUDL’s Debate Club and hear directly from the young people who helped shape it from the very beginning. Co-hosts Keji Okeowo, Director of HUDL, and Koby Ofosu, a member of Debate Club, are joined by Debate Club members to reflect on why they joined, what a typical session involves, and how an eight-week pilot developed into an 18-month programme. A...

In Episode Two of HUDL Up, we’re joined by Dan, Sam, Shirley, and Thalia from the Involving Young People Collective (IYPC) to explore what it truly means to involve young people in decision-making. Together, they share their journeys into the IYPC, reflecting on moments of imposter syndrome, confidence-building, and the shift from tokenistic participation to genuine partnership. The conversation d...

In this debut episode of HUDL Up, Keji Okeowo, Director of HUDL, and Floree Zama-Neagra, a Senior Associate at HUDL, take us behind the scenes to explore how HUDL began and how it’s developed over the last eight years. Keji and Floree reflect on key moments that shaped their journey: ⁣⁣⁣⁣What brought them into working with young people in the first place ⁣⁣⁣⁣How lived experience became the foundat...