Restless Development was founded as Students Partnership Worldwide in 1985 by Jim Cogan, the Deputy Head of Westminster School.

In 2010, SPW re-branded as Restless Development,[2] and in 2011 joined the consortium of organizations for the International Citizen Service, a program funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), providing overseas volunteer placements for young people to work alongside national volunteers.

From 2011-2016, Restless Development led a 'Youth Consortium' involving Warchild and Youth Business International that held a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) with DFID.

[5] From 2014-2016, Restless Development was Organising Partner of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY).

[6] The organisation also runs a global Youth Collective[7] providing support to young people involved in civil society and political change-making.