Young people in the North East lack access to opportunities. Many don’t believe in themselves and simply aren’t realising, or achieving, their potential. In the North East, deprivation is high and prospects are low. The region has some of the highest levels of poor emotional wellbeing, mental health and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). Austerity has led to closure and reduced youth provision meaning there are less opportunities to kick start young people's futures.

The Key will provide young people with the opportunities they need to realise their potential and discover what they’re capable of through our youth-led Framework. The Key Framework inspires young people to believe in their ideas and empower them to take the lead. It sees them come together in small teams and, with support of a trained Key Facilitator (youth worker), use their individuality and imaginations to think, plan, budget, pitch (to panel), do and review their own projects.