The Dusty Knuckle Bakery set to expand Youth Programme

Events Coordinator at The Dusty Knuckle Bakery, Verity Fulham, has confirmed the bakery’s award-winning Youth Programme will also be carried out at their new site in Blackstock Road, Islington: “we hope to run the programme soon, once the shop is fully up and running.”

This will be The Dusty Knuckle Bakery’s third brick and mortar site, which we are told by co-founder Max Tobias via Instagram will open its doors “early November.”

Although known locally for their hefty sandwiches, artisanal coffee and distinctive milk floats, The Dusty Knuckle Bakery has gained national recognition for their dedication to improving employability prospects for young people.

In 2025 they received the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in the Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility category and have since used this recognition to continue expanding their business.

The Youth Programme is designed for people aged 18-24 who face significant barriers to employment. Trainees are referred to the programme by family or community and professional organisations; the majority have experience of the Criminal Justice System.

The Dusty Knuckle Bakery’s 2025 Impact Report cites employment as a major deterrent against reoffending. Their investment in young people’s careers is a big draw for their customers.

At the Dalston site Sarah Jane Schostack, a mother and regular Dusty Knuckle customer, said: “I’ve visited three times this week already. It’s actually inconvenient for me to come [regarding the location] but it’s a good business run by good people, so I want to support it.”

The opening of a third branch proves The Dusty Knuckle Bakery’s business model to be both a commercial and social success. Expanding their Youth Programme promises to increase employment opportunities for young people within the community and help them enter the workforce.