About Goal 17

Our mission, story and credibility

Our Social Mission

At Goal 17, we exist to create a fairer, more inclusive society by connecting people through safe, meaningful, and transformative volunteering.

We design and deliver high-impact mentoring and volunteering programmes that support disadvantaged young people—particularly care leavers and those facing systemic barriers—to build confidence, resilience, and brighter futures.

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference. That’s why we train and support volunteers to become trusted mentors, using cutting-edge safeguarding technology and accredited training to ensure every relationship is safe, supported, and impactful.

Our mission goes beyond direct delivery. We partner with local authorities, schools, and community organisations to strengthen the entire volunteer infrastructure—building local capacity, raising standards, and helping communities thrive.

Our work is underpinned by lived experience, data-driven insight, and a commitment to equity. We are proud to be a mission-driven business, reinvesting our income into growing our impact and challenging inequality at scale.

Our Story

Goal 17 began with a question: What if more people truly understood the challenges young people face — and felt empowered to do something about it?

Our founder, Fran Boorman, was already a successful entrepreneur, having built a multi-million-pound turnover business in the network marketing sector. With financial freedom secured, she set her sights on something deeper — making a meaningful social impact.

The turning point came unexpectedly during a corporate training session, where Fran met an inspiring young woman. Impressed by her maturity and insight, Fran agreed to mentor her. It was only afterwards she learned the young woman was a care leaver — a term Fran is ashamed she didnt even truly understand.

That mentoring relationship opened Fran’s eyes to a world of hidden disadvantage. She was struck by the stark inequalities young people face, and equally by how little many of us — especially those from more privileged backgrounds — truly understand.

Fran saw where she could add the most value: by building bridges. Goal 17 was born to create safe, structured mentoring and volunteering programmes that connect people across class and community divides. Every match we make is about more than support — it’s about empathy, empowerment, and shifting perspectives.

Since that first mentoring conversation, Goal 17 has grown into a national organisation delivering award-winning programmes, shaping policy, and pioneering safeguarding technology. At our core remains the same belief: a single trusted relationship can change a life — and maybe even change a whole community.

Our Name

The name Goal 17 comes from the United Nations’ 17th Sustainable Development Goal: Partnerships for the Goals. We believe that lasting change happens when people come together — so our mission is to build powerful connections that create better futures.

What We Do

Mentoring Programmes

We train and match volunteers to support young people one-to-one, focusing on confidence, independence, and personal growth. We work with care leavers, students at risk of exclusion, and others facing barriers—partnering with councils, schools, and national funders to create life-changing relationships.

Volunteer Infrastructure

We help local authorities and voluntary organisations grow their volunteering capacity. Through discovery calls, bespoke training, and strategic support, we ensure local communities can run sustainable, inclusive, and safe volunteering initiatives.

Technology & Innovation

We’re the creators of Wowment—our patent-pending safeguarding and engagement platform. It allows mentors and mentees to communicate via WhatsApp without exchanging contact details, with AI safeguarding, engagement tracking, and meeting logs built in. It’s game-changing for safety and scalability..

Training & Learning

Our volunteers and partners access CPD-certified and university-accredited training via The Goal 17 Learning Platform. We invest in high-quality, accessible learning that equips people with real skills, recognised qualifications, and tools for long-term impact.

Our Commitment as a Social Enterprise

Goal 17 is a mission-driven business. We have amended our Articles of Association to lock in our social purpose, and we reinvest our surplus to maximise impact. We do not rely on donations—our model is designed to be financially sustainable and socially powerful.

We are proud to be a social enterprise that blends entrepreneurial drive with meaningful purpose. Every decision we make is guided by our mission and our commitment to creating a better future—for young people, for communities, and for society as a whole.