Everyone needs youth leader as confederate (4)
I believe the answer is:
ally
'confederate' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'everyone needs youth leader' is the wordplay.
'everyone' becomes 'all' (all people).
'needs' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'youth leader' becomes 'y' (I've seen this in other clues).
'all'+'y'='ALLY'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for ally that I've seen before include "Fighting partner" , "mate" , "Join - friend" , "One co-operating with another" , "Crony" .)