About Us

Learn more about YouthTheGap's our history, what we believe, our team and how we are radically changing the educational space.

Our History

YouthTheGapCIC emerged from our founder's frustations - both in youth work and education.

Youth Work

So, we embedded the teachings of youth work practise into our framework, to maintain the grassroots, non-hierachal and collective impact.

Education

And, from being on the grounds, we understand educational barriers and burdens deeply. We have harnessed the power of a holistic stakeholder approach to ensure change is not just measured and made in the classroom.

Intersectionality

From combining both youth work practise and understanding educational structure and operations, we have key insights that help you to move away from tradition. The key to radical change - for we all know education CAN change, for the better.

A man in a puffer jacket is sitting and leading a conversation, with a woman listening intently. The sign "KUNSTRAUM" is hanging above them in the back.
Two people presenting at the front of the stage. One is standing by a podium with a mic, the other is laughing underneath a screen saying "Calling In, Not Calling Out". They are talking to a crowd of people.
A pair sitting by a bar, facing forwards, watching something. One is holding a camera, filming the event. They both appear focused and intrigued.

Meet Kaia Allen-Bevan - Founder & Director of YouthTheGapCIC.

ACTIVIST | PUBLIC & TEDX SPEAKER | CONSULTANT | ARTIST & POET | HOST | TRUSTEE

Since 2019 (age 16), Kaia has been a Racial Justice / Anti-Racism advocate, striving for change daily - no matter how "big", "small", or visible these may be. Kaia has bloomed since the grassroots of her activism, delivering a TEDx Talk (April 22nd, 2022), co-organising Brighton's own BLM peaceful demonstrations and campaign, and founding @officialbrightonblm. Kaia is featured, and recognised as a TEDx and Public Speaker who is “Making A Global Impact”. Kaia returned to TEDx Brighton as their first guest curator, challenging the theme of “Planet Hope” with youth voices (Busayo Twins, Annabelle Woghiren and Dyar Hussain), awareness to global injustice and instilling social culpability. As of November 2022, Kaia joined the award-winning company "WatchThisSp_ce" team, as their own Anti-Racism and Allyship Lead, as well as a workshop/training consultant, specializing in sessions around Anti-Racism and Allyship, as well as Diversity and Inclusion. In 2023, Kaia was promoted to their Engagement Lead. In March 2023, Kaia became a member of the "GeniusIsCommon" movement at the age of 20, a campaign striving to tear down the Berlin Wall of the word "genius". Kaia is now the Director of Engagement and Impact at Edge Of Difference, closing her journey with WatchThisSp_ce in July 2025. Kaia has been crowned City Girl Network and Brighton Girl Network’s “Brighton Girl of The Year” of 2025, up against 101 nominees. Kaia co-founded the "YappedOutPodcast" and was an existing co-host of the platform, and is currently the Plus X Innovation Ambassador. She was a previous host and regional project manager of PoetsPalace Brighton, and current host of her own Poetry and open-mic night “From The Archives”, in collaboration with The Archives (Brighton). Kaia is also a trustee at Little Green Pig, joining the team in October 2025. Kaia is also considered an “up-and-coming artist” by CasildART Gallery; she is a multi-medium creative with a portfolio of partnerships and collaborations with different organisations, companies and MORE, such as Grazia, Yubo, The Guardian and Brighton Fringe.

Meet The Team

We believe change must include the most oppressed from the offset; our organisation is founded by, and predominantly led by, youth aged 22–26, Black and Global Majority, neurodiverse, marginalised gendered, disabled individuals and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We describe ourselves not just as a platform, but as a movement.

We have an international youth advisory board that co-directs YouthTheGap's initiatives, projects and internal processes. Inspired by horizontal hierarchies, we let the youth lead, and have their say, to co-create solutions effectively and intersectionally.

Dyar Hussain

(He/Him) Director of Education & Knowledge Exchange

Dyar is a TEDx Speaker who leads on developing YouthTheGap’s AltED resource hub and educational platform, which co-creates with grassroots and diverse voices to teach you the very things the UK curriculum deems to shadow. As a Master of International Human Rights Law, he is deeply committed to advancing anti-imperial education and empowering marginalised communities. Over the years, his work has predominantly focused on engaging with young people of colour, including refugees and asylum seekers, creating spaces where their voices are heard and valued. He aims to challenge systems of oppression through education, advocacy, and access, amplifying a range of intersecting struggles.

A photo of Dyar dressed in a navy t-shirt with brown trousers, with a darker brown belt. He is looking away from the camera, sophisticated. He is wearing glasses, and standing in front of a black paneled wall.
Image of Kaia speaking, holding a mic in her left hand and facing a crowd. She is wearing a cool brown and orange bandana, with braids, that match her brown two-piece outfit.

What We Believe

Rooted in Decolonial, Black Feminist principles, we apply the rich knowledge of activists, academics, leaders of the past and of today to intergenerationally build long-term relationships with schools and educational staff, that evolve into coalitions for meaningful and sustainable change.

  • We believe that addressing injustice requires everyone—not just youth—to be active cultural members of the revolution.
  • We believe that our 4-pillar value system of Humility, Allyship, Compassion and Growth is the invitation, and the commitment.
  • We believe that harmonising stakeholder relationships in education with our 5-star framework effectively and collectively illustrates the big picture.
  • We believe change must include the most oppressed from the offset; our organisation is founded by, and predominantly led by, youth aged 22–26, Black and Global Majority, neurodiverse, marginalised gendered, disabled individuals and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We describe ourselves not just as a platform, but as a movement.
Scroll to Top