When we think about why organisations choose to partner with Esteem, Clare Maddison, Head of Partnerships at the Berkeley Foundation, offers an illuminating perspective.
For Clare, the alignment between the two organisations’ missions was clear from the outset. “Esteem’s work dovetails with the Berkeley Foundation’s mission to support young people and their communities to thrive”, she explains. Esteem provides a safe, accessible space where young adults can build their capacity through personal support, guidance, and social activities – creating what Clare describes as a “strong synergy” with Berkeley’s own impact goals.
She highlights that Esteem stands out as the only open-access youth service in West Sussex. But it wasn’t just the uniqueness of the service that drew Berkeley in. Clare notes their admiration for the charity’s leadership, vision, and demonstrated impact: “We felt we could build a solid partnership with Esteem, adding value to their work and supporting the organisation to become more resilient and future-proof”.
Partnerships are built on more than just alignment, they thrive on meaningful engagement. Clare has been particularly struck by Esteem’s approach to youth participation. From the very beginning, it was evident that young people at Esteem are not just participants but trusted, valued members of the team. “We could see early on that Esteem’s young adults were trusted and valued members of the team, holding a meaningful role in organisational decision-making,” she recalls. Clare fondly remembers meeting two young advocates during the Resilience Fund application process, describing them as “excellent advocates for the charity.” She observes that Esteem’s commitment to youth participation remains central to its work, alongside a robust capacity-building offer for other organisations.
For Clare, the value of the partnership goes beyond mission alignment. She emphasises the ease of collaboration and the openness of the Esteem team: “From the perspective of a funding partner, the Esteem team is a pleasure to work with. We have built good relationships across all levels of the organisation thanks to the team’s openness and willingness to engage in wider partnership activities and share learning with us and others”.
At the heart of all this is Esteem’s unwavering focus on young people. Clare sums it up perfectly: “It is a fantastic organisation with young people at the heart.”
For any foundation considering partnership, Clare’s reflections offer both reassurance and inspiration. Working with Esteem is not just about funding a cause, it’s about joining a collaborative effort to create meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of young people and their communities.
22 January 2026
by Pixie Parker