Rebel Plan 2026 - 2030

We are facing a crisis of pace, scale and accountability. Climate breakdown, energy insecurity, waste and pollution are accelerating – yet our systems for change move far too slowly. Businesses and governments are now legally required to measure and report their environmental and social impacts through ESG frameworks, but many still struggle to innovate fast enough or deeply enough to meet these challenges. At the same time, the way we run innovation is broken. Over 30% of projects fail because problems are poorly framed and users aren’t properly understood (PMI, Pulse of the Profession, 2021). In climate action, failure isn’t just inefficient – it carries catastrophic consequences for ecosystems and long-term societal resilience (IPCC, 2023). We also have a hidden crisis in creativity. Young people consistently outperform adults in **divergent thinking**, a critical skill for early-stage innovation. Yet longitudinal research using the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking shows creativity has declined generation-on-generation (Kim, 2011). This means future leaders may be less equipped to solve complex global challenges – unless we intervene now. That’s where Rebel Punkworx comes in. We take a fundamentally different approach to innovation. Instead of rigid project-management models, we use human-centred design and systems thinking* – approaches proven to reduce risk, improve adoption and deliver stronger ROI (Design Council, 2021). These methods align with the UK Innovation Strategy (BEIS, 2021) and are better suited to tackling complex challenges like decarbonisation, energy transition, pollution and sustainable growth. Crucially, we put young people at the centre of change – right now. Not as “future leaders”, but as current innovators. We train students in climate science, sustainability, design thinking and theory of change – then embed them into real organisations to challenge assumptions, reframe problems and co-create solutions across: • Energy systems • Digital transformation • AI & robotics • Product & service design • Circular economy • Organisational systems & policy This is intergenerational collaboration in action – young people working side-by-side with experienced professionals to challenge the status quo. Our model is proven. Through the University of Birmingham Impact Challenge, students worked directly with Chiltern Railways to develop new concepts including immersive heritage journeys, AI-powered travel tools and inclusive ticketing systems. We also work with major employers, universities and public-sector organisations to build internal innovation capability while solving real-world challenges. This isn’t consultancy. It’s co-creation We don’t deliver reports and walk away. We build long-term capability inside organisations while giving young people real agency – presenting ideas, prototypes and insights directly to senior leaders. Your donation powers this movement. It funds training. It opens boardroom doors to young people. It accelerates meaningful climate action. You’re not just supporting education – you’re backing a generation to redesign our systems for a liveable future.