The Achiever Network
The Jack Petchey Foundation is focused on making sure young people’s voices, decisions and opinions are at the centre of everything we do.
We recognise the achievements of around 12,000 young people a year, all of whom have gone above and beyond to support their community and achieve. You may be one of them, so please read on…
Is this the perfect opportunity for you?
- Have you won a Jack Petchey Achievement Award, Environmental Award OR taken part in one of our Partnership Programmes?
- Are you aged between 14-19? Additionally, we accept ages 14-21 for young people with special educational needs and/or a disability.
- Are you looking to develop your self-awareness, grow in confidence, learn new skills, and meet new people?
- Do you feel you need a bit of extra help to become the best version of yourself?
- Are you open to stepping outside of your comfort zone and learning from new experiences?
- Are you available to commit to attend five Saturday training days near Canary Wharf?
If the answer to all these questions is ‘Yes!’, then our Achiever Network might offer the perfect opportunity for you!
About the Achiever Network
We have been running our Achiever Network programme since 2011 and this is our 15th year! To date, more than 300 young people have graduated from the Achiever Network Programme, with 100% of participants telling us that the programme has increased their self-esteem and confidence, as well as providing them with unique and amazing opportunities.
Our Achiever Network is a free-of-charge, 12-month personal development programme which is offered to 35 young people each year.
Applications are open to young people who have been an Achievement or Environmental Award Winner, a Grand/Regional Finalist of Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge , a performer at Step Into Dance, a Wallball or Panathlon competitor, or have been a participant in any other Jack Petchey programme (click here to see our list of programmes).
Please note one of the best parts of the programme is getting to meet and learn with other young people from different places, age groups, and walks of life. To help make that happen, we usually only offer places to a maximum of two people from the same school or organisation.
Applications for the 15th Cohort are now open.
Application Form
This is our 15th Achiever Network programme, which started in September 2026 and will run for 12-months.
You are invited to apply directly to the Achiever Network using the link above. After applying, if you are eligible, you will be required to attend a Selection Day to meet the Jack Petchey Foundation staff team and other potential participants.
After the Selection Day, the team at the Jack Petchey Foundation will discuss who is best suited to join the Achiever Network 15 programme. You will be written to and told if you have been selected.
Watch the video below to learn more about The Achiever Network
Programme Outline
Once you’ve been selected to join Achiever Network 15, you will be invited to start the programme by attending a residential weekend in October (Friday – Sunday), where you will have the opportunity to take part in a range of team building and development workshops and to start to develop new connections with your fellow Achievers!
We then offer five additional training days on Saturdays over the course of the year which focus on developing skills in areas including self-esteem, communication techniques, effective leadership, stress management, effective presentation and public speaking, influencing, and revision techniques.
During the programme, you will also be paired with a skilled volunteer mentor for three one-to-one sessions during the year, to give you some extra support and to act as a sounding board for the duration of the programme. These mentors are adults, many of whom work at or volunteer with the Jack Petchey Foundation, or who have graduated from the Achiever Network themselves!
Fundraising and volunteering are also important components of the Achiever Network programme and every year, young people on the Achiever Network complete roughly 4,000 hours of volunteering between them.
The Achiever Network Programme finishes with a fantastic graduation ceremony, where each Achiever will be awarded with their graduation certificate in front of their families and VIPs.
What happens after I graduate from the Achiever Network?
Once you’ve graduated from the Achiever Network, we will stay in touch and offer ways for you to continue to volunteer and contribute your ideas and skills to the Jack Petchey Foundation for many years to come. You will also have the opportunity to apply to join our vitally important Youth Consultation Panel.
Programme Dates (compulsory)
The 15th Achiever Network cohort will start in September 2026.
- Deadline for Applications: Friday 31st July 2026 (12 noon)
- Selection Day: Saturday 12th September 2026 (9.45am – 4.00pm)
- Residential Weekend: 16th – 18th October 2026 (Departure approx. 5pm Friday 16th October, returning approx. 3pm Sunday 18th October.)
- Training Day 1: Saturday 5th December 2026 (9.45am – 4.00pm + optional social until 6.30pm)
- Training Day 2: Saturday 23rd January 2027 (9.45am – 4.00pm)
- Training Day 3: Saturday 13th March 2027 (9.45am – 4.00pm)
- Training Day 4: Saturday 8th May 2027 (9.45am – 4.00pm)
- Training Day 5: Saturday 26th June 2027 (9.45am – 4.00pm)
- Achiever Network Graduation Ceremony: (TBC) Friday 3rd Sept 2027 (approx. 6pm – 9pm)
Top tips for submitting a good Achiever Network Application
- Think carefully about your answers to the questions on page 2: ‘Application Questions’. It is worth looking at the form before you go to apply, so you give yourself time to think about your answers. It will mean you submit a much stronger application.
- Be prepared! You will be asked to provide details of a referee who is not your parent or carer to support your application. Please ask their permission before applying. You will need to provide their contact details as part of your application form (full name, their job title and organisation, their email, mobile and work address) so get these ready in advance.
- Check you qualify for the programme! You must have taken part in a Jack Petchey Partnership Programme or have received a Jack Petchey Achievement Award or Environmental Award to be eligible to apply for the Achiever Network.
- This is a popular programme, so don’t leave it to the last minute! The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday 31st July 2026. We can only take 35 people.
Not able to join us for Achiever Network 15 but are interested in a future programme? Complete our Expression of Interest form so you join our waiting list.
Expression of Interest Form
