Citadel is defined as a stronghold where a principle and idea can be held safely, a place around which communities and cultures grow. At our core, Citadel’s work centres on young lives and improving life chances.
Founded in 2005, our first clients were Centrepoint, National Youth Agency and the Phillip Lawrence Awards which was hosted by the charities 4Children then Catch-22. Twenty years on, all remain part of our work in different ways. From Centrepoint our longest standing continuous client, and NYA as the statutory body for youth work, to the Centre for Young Lives whose DNA can be traced to our work with 4Children.
It was a chance encounter with then Kids Club Network CEO Anne Longfield and Citadel founder Jonathan Hopkins that sparked a working friendship of over two decades. After becoming a trustee of the rebranded charity 4Children, and working together on the Philip Lawrence Awards for the Home Office, Jonathan set up Citadel and led on campaigns that help bring about positive change to young people’s lives.
As Children’s Commissioner for England, later the groundbreaking Commission on Young Lives, and most recently establishing the independent think tank as the Centre for Young Lives, Anne has worked with Jonathan throughout.
By joining forces as an Associate at the Centre for Young Lives, there is a wealth of experience and shared passion across the team to do the right thing by young people. We aim to change lives by working with young people, and breaking down barriers to opportunity for families and communities. From education reform, mental health, life skills and future employment to increase life chances, to the seemingly insurmountable barriers of child poverty, violence and exploitation.
Major priorities for 2025 include the design of the government’s flagship policy of Young Futures, modelled as ‘Sure Start for Teenagers’. As well as new research launched for 16-24 year olds at a critical stage of life that is largely unrecognised as a discrete cohort of young lives by policy makers and funders.
Alongside the Centre’s support of a National Play Commission, our contribution to positive activities for young people is a driving force which supports the government’s new national youth strategy. This draws on an evidence base and as a learning partner on ‘what works’ which includes Children in Need, Premier League Community Fund and Youth Futures Foundation, among others.
Our shared ambition to change young lives for the better is rooted in place-based approaches and to ensure all young people have: equitable access for ‘somewhere safe to go, as a creative space for something fun to do and learn new skills, and a trusted adult to talk who knows what’s needed, connected to wider youth services’.
“I’ve worked with Anne since the 1990s. Her track record of delivery and support for children, young people and families is second to none. Rightly recognised as former Children’s Commissioner for England in her 2025 appointment to the House of Lords, our work with the team at the Centre for Young Lives will be a driving force to improve the life chances with young people.” – Jonathan Hopkins
“Citadel is one of those rare organisations that brings together extensive policy knowledge and public affairs experience to support organisations and decision makers with relentless commitment and determination to bring about transformational change. Working together with Jonathan to make the case and secure the measures needed to make that happen.” – Baroness Anne Longfield
Citadel 