YouthForward connects at-risk youth, school leavers, and newcomer young people across the GTA with mentors, skills training, peer support, and a direct pathway to employment. Free of charge. Always.
We serve young people aged 16 to 29 across the Greater Toronto Area — regardless of background, education level, immigration status, or circumstance.
Young people who have completed high school but don't have a clear next step. No post-secondary plan, no network, no roadmap. We provide mentorship, direction, and connection to real opportunity.
Youth Employment GrantsYoung people who started college or university but left before completing their credential. Carrying stigma, lost confidence, and no clear path. This is our most underserved population — and our most powerful grant story.
YESS · Trillium FoundationYoung immigrants and refugees aged 16 to 29 navigating a new country, a new culture, and a new job market simultaneously — often without family support networks or community connections.
IRCC Settlement · United WayYoung people facing poverty, housing instability, mental health challenges, family breakdown, or involvement with the justice system. The system has failed them. YouthForward does not.
Municipal Youth Funds · RBC Future LaunchFour programs. One mission. Every young person who comes to us gets the full support of the ecosystem behind them.
We carefully match each young person with a community mentor — a professional, a tradesperson, an entrepreneur, or a community leader — who walks alongside them, shares their experience, and opens doors.
Practical, employer-ready skills delivered in partnership with CommunityRise. Resume writing, interview preparation, Canadian workplace culture, financial literacy, and digital skills — everything needed to walk into an opportunity with confidence.
Facilitated group sessions where young people connect with others who share similar experiences. Peer support circles reduce isolation, build community, and create accountability partnerships that sustain progress long after the program ends.
One-on-one goal setting sessions with a YouthForward coordinator. Together we map where you are, where you want to go, and every concrete step between here and there. No judgment. No timeline pressure. Just a real plan that belongs to you.
Getting started takes one conversation. We handle everything from there.
Call us, email us, or fill out the form below. Tell us a little about where you are and what kind of support you are looking for.
A YouthForward coordinator reaches out within one business day for a no-pressure conversation. We listen first. We never judge.
Together we map your pathway — which programs fit you, which ecosystem resources you need, and what your next step looks like.
You start your programs, meet your mentor, and begin moving. We stay with you every step — checking in, adjusting, celebrating.
YouthForward prepares you. PathSpark places you. Together we walk every step — from the day you reach out to the day you get your first offer.
PathSpark is our dedicated student-to-employer bridge platform — launching in 2026. It connects YouthForward graduates directly with GTA employers who are committed to hiring from underserved youth populations. Join the waitlist now and be first in line when we launch.
Join the PathSpark WaitlistBe the first to access employer connections when PathSpark launches. Over 200 spots already reserved.
YouthForward is one of six coordinated programs operating under one nonprofit corporation dedicated to complete community coverage across the Greater Toronto Area.
This is not accidental. This is architecture. Every young person who walks through our door gets access to the full weight of the ecosystem — food security, mental health support, skills training, senior wellness, and employment pathways. No one falls through the cracks. Not one.
One corporation. Six programs. Zero overlap. Complete community coverage.
Food security, community meals, and support for newcomers, international students, and food-insecure families across the GTA.
Mental health companionship and free counselling access for isolated, lonely, and struggling individuals across the GTA.
Ending senior isolation through companion calling, mentorship, digital literacy, and wellness support for older adults.
Free training for volunteers, seniors, newcomers, and community members. The capacity engine of the whole ecosystem.
You are here. Mentorship, skills development, peer support, and pathway planning for at-risk and newcomer youth.
The student-to-employer bridge platform. Connecting YouthForward graduates with GTA employer partners. Launching 2026.
"Strategy, community, connection, depth, delivery, and success — working together hand in hand under one umbrella. This is what we build. This is what we live."
You don't need a formal credential to change a young person's direction. You need experience, patience, and the willingness to show up. We train you for everything else through CommunityRise.
Become a MentorMatched one-on-one with a young person. Weekly sessions. Flexible schedule. Remote-friendly. Full training provided through CommunityRise.
Deliver resume workshops, mock interviews, or workplace skills sessions. One session or ongoing — your choice. No formal teaching experience needed.
Lead weekly peer support groups for young people navigating similar challenges. Trained and supported by YouthForward coordinators.
Register your organization as a PathSpark employer partner. Commit to one mentorship and one placement per year. Get early access to motivated, trained youth candidates.
Whether you need support, want to mentor, or are ready to partner — YouthForward is here. Rise. Connect. Forward.
Whether you're a young person looking for support, a mentor ready to give your time, an employer wanting to partner, or a community organization wanting to refer — we respond to every message personally and without judgment.
YouthForward is a Canadian nonprofit. Charitable registration in progress. All conversations are confidential. We never share your personal information.
Part of the OneRoof Community Foundation
YouthForward is one of six programs under OneRoof Community Foundation. If you or someone you know needs a different kind of support — we can connect you.
Not sure which program is right? Contact OneRoof and we will connect you to the right door.