The First Third is an independent research and action organisation tackling the commercial forces that undermine young people's agency, wellbeing, and life chances, and building the connections they actually want and need.

Founded by Joe Woof and Hilary Sutcliffe, The First Third grew out of three years of joint research into what we call the Addiction Economy: 10 business sectors whose models are built on undermining people's ability to control their use of products beyond the point of harm. The industries of alcohol, UPF, nicotine, social media, gaming, gambling, porn, chatbots and dating apps, are quietly reshaping the brains and lives of young people from infancy to adulthood while the spaces to connect with each other (youth centres, libraries, arts venues) have been systematically stripped away.

We work on three questions:
1.  What stands between young people and the lives they want to live?
2.  Who put it there?
3.  How do we get it out of the way?

Our Work:

We pursue change through three interconnected programmes:

1. Independent Research:  rigorous, original work on how the commercial environment affects children's development and wellbeing, produced by young people to promote their voices and perspectives.

2. Peer-to-Peer Learning: moving beyond blame and ineffective 'Just Say No' approaches, we co-create spaces where young people can understand the impacts together, with humour, solidarity, and genuine support.

3. The Connection Incubator: flexible grants for young people to build activities and services to turn the passions and interests young people have into pockets of community in their local area

To learn more about the Addiction Economy and the Connection Economy: www.theaddictioneconomy.com

Interested in funding or partnering with our work? Get in touch: joe@thefirstthird.org



The First Third

Org chart

Teams

Offices

The First Third

Org chart

Teams

Offices

Related companies