Our Work

Direct Delivery

Our International Placements give young people from the UK meaningful, structured opportunities to volunteer with our country programmes in Africa and Asia. Find out more about our three-month ICS placements for 18-22 year olds

For information on other volunteering opportunities contact hannah@restlessdevelopment.org to be added to our mailing list.

Our Youth Engagement Team run dance4life UK which inspires thousands of young people to take action to push back HIV and AIDS and improve personal and global sexual health.

'Through working with dance4life, I have been amazed by the creativity, enthusiasm and determination of young people, not only in the UK but globally to stop the epidemic. And when these young people come together, there is very little that can stop them, which makes me hope for a HIV/AIDS free future.'    

Rachel, dance4life youth board member, 19

Shaping policy and practice

We convene the DFID-CSO Youth Working Group, bringing together 30 UK-based organisations working on youth and development globally.

Our Campaigns and Advocacy Team coordinate the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, made up of young people who believe the world’s response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is insufficient and unacceptable. The students raise awareness, campaign and lobby to see the reversal and ultimate ending of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through the promotion of evidence-based prevention, affordable treatment and through long-term and sustainable care and support.

Building a strong youth sector

Restless Development works with the MTV Staying Alive Foundation to deliver training to their grantees. As a result, since 2009 we have built the capacity of over 75 youth-led organisations from over 40 countries around the world. Contact beth@restlessdevelopment.org for more information,

'I love SAF and Restless Development staff. They are all fun, passionate, live what they teach and love what they do. Keep up. Uphold and inspire the world with your greatness.'

Aubrey, a capacity building workshop participant from Jamaica

Generation of leadership

Over 16,000 people around the world have gained meaningful experiences of international development with us. We are reconnecting them to form a global network of young leaders. If you are a former volunteer, staff member or supporter please contact martina@restlessdevelopment.org for more information.

'The skills gained and experience I had with Restless Development could not have been learnt in a classroom. I can truly say my experience in South Africa both helped me know what I want to do with my career and helped me get it! My experience stands out on my CV and employees are interested in what I gained from my placement and what I have to offer their organisation.'

Rachel Deacon, Restless Development Alumni

sharing and learning

Like most young people, we’re not scared to share our ideas.

As lead agency, we worked with the DFID-CSO Youth Working Group to create a guide to Youth Participation in Development, targeted at donors and policy makers. We will continue to capture and communicate our lessons from the field, and allow others to build on our work.