UK Youth Parliament - young voices heard on next steps

When the British Youth Council announced its closure on 21rst March 2024 it was midway in a two-year contract from the Govt DCMS Youth Directorate to deliver a programme including the Youth Parliament. DCMS and supporters have been gathering information and exploring options for its continued delivery. It’s no surprise that young people have been self-mobilising to ensure their voices are heard too. Here’s what they have been saying and a response from the Minister promising to meet them. YVH will post updates when the new contract host is announced. UKYP Steering Group member Jamie Burrell sends a message to supporters and Young Voices Heard.

As a campaign platform on behalf of young voices getting heard YVH and its founder James Cathcart, a former CEO of BYC who oversaw the original transfer of UKYP, have been sharing Statements (x 2 below) by the UKYP Steering Group of 12 elected representatives of the 9 English regions and 3 nations, and an open letter written by a individual MYP Hayden Cutler signed by over 300 supporters (now closed but follow link below), and the Governments Response (below).

Steering Group member Jamie Burrell had this message for Young Voices Heard and supporters

The UK Youth Parliament Steering Group has been privileged to have the support of so many youth organisations, programme alumni and so many others across the youth sector and beyond. We have greatly appreciated the messages of support, the help in sharing our statements and to all those who have been emphasising our important role as young leaders. We are really looking forward to talking with lots of you more in the coming weeks as we work together to secure a sustainable future for the UK Youth Parliament, as well as all the other important and impactful programmes which the British Youth Council have delivered for so long.”