From an Idea to a
Movement
Two friends. One mission. Thousands of changemakers and a future shaped by young voices.
Hayden Taylor: Co-Founder & Chief Executive
Hayden co-founded Unloc, aged 16, with a clear mission: to empower young people to become changemakers in their own lives, local communities and by shaping the futures of those around them. Having experienced firsthand the lack of platforms for youth voice and leadership, Hayden was driven to create an organisation that bridges the gap between education, business, and society. His belief is simple yet powerful: when young people are given the tools, confidence, and opportunities to lead, real social change follows.
Under Hayden’s leadership, Unloc has evolved from a local initiative into a national youth empowerment movement, supporting tens of thousands of young people each year. He’s passionate about co-creation and ensuring that young people don’t just participate but lead the conversation about the future of education, business and community.
Looking ahead, Hayden’s vision for Unloc is one of continued innovation and collaboration. He is focused on building sustainable partnerships with schools, colleges, universities, global businesses and community partners to create opportunities that are meaningful, future-focused and youth-led. For Hayden, Unloc’s future lies in its ability to influence systems, helping reshape how society values youth potential.
Hayden is a proud One Young World Ambassador, a Jo Cox Memorial Scholar, fellow of A Million Realities and holds a number of trustee and Non-Executive Director positions across both the private and third sector.
Ben Dowling: Co-Founder & Deputy Chief Executive
Ben co-founded Unloc alongside Hayden with the shared goal of creating a new kind of youth organisation, one focused on genuine empowerment, not token gestures. Growing up in Portsmouth, Ben recognised the huge potential of young people when given the right space to explore ideas, take risks, and lead projects. Unloc was born from that belief: that leadership isn’t about position, it’s about action and voice.
As a co-founder, Ben has been instrumental in shaping Unloc’s culture of creativity, innovation, and inclusion. His background in civic engagement and local government, including eight years as a city councillor, has helped Unloc forge powerful relationships between communities, education providers, and businesses. Ben has a strong passion for enabling collaboration across sectors and ensuring that young people are part of the decision-making process, not just the outcome.
Looking to the future, Ben envisions Unloc continuing to expand its global impact, helping young people everywhere to shape their own learning and leadership journeys. He’s particularly focused on how digital transformation and co-production can open new pathways for youth engagement and partnership.
Ben leads by example at a local level, serving as a trustee of a housing charity and a Non-Executive Director of Eldon Housing. He has previously been a school governor, a director of a community coffee shop, a trustee of a charity focused on protecting green spaces.Ben has also served as a director of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, and a Non-Executive Director of Portico – a deep water cargo terminal. More recently, Ben has expanded his international portfolio as a Director of Global Edge and as a local leader for the Franco-British Council.
