Have your #youthvoice say using the 0nline “public survey” consultation open til 31/12/24. Following the announcement by the National Youth Agency (see Part 1) of a consultation on the future for a new national youth council and ways to influence government, NYA have now launched an online consultation and call for #youthvoice focus groups to be set up. This process is open until the end of December 2024. YVH James Cathcart is offering to facilitate (free) a co-hosted webinair using the NYA Guide, or young people can complete the online survey before the end of December Details and links scroll below to Esther’s Update. [This article was first published 13/11 and updated 01/12]
YVH Comment- “Whilst the NYA consultation continues, the Government have now announced (12/11/24) that they will be working with young people and stakeholders to shape a new National Youth Strategy. DMCS Minister Lisa Nandy MP, announced that they would be holding face to face meetings with young people and establishing a Youth Advisory Group to develop the co-production process, acknowledging that young people are not only equal stakeholders but that they are willing and able to participate in joint enterprise with Government, regardless of the existence of a youth council. I had previously called for any national review of youthvoice to include a review of how Government hears them – so this is a very welcome and significant development. I’m sure that the sharing of expertise and networks will help both these processes going forward.
Whatever emerges, young people will need to be supported to attend and participate, both by each other and by supporting organisations who can address the barriers to participation. The wider and more inclusive the reach the better. So we all need to reach as wide a range of stakeholders as possible, which is why I hope you will share the details below with schools networks, citizenship organisations, youth representation networks in health, education, special needs, justice…
The NYA update below now states that the aim is to set up a new youth council as an independent ‘charity’ but there are other models of governance … the consultation is inviting views on the best structure. I’ll be publishing an options paper that looks that the old BYC model, and exploring alternatives models of governance and roles. NYA have already declared they have no long-term interest in hosting and are committed to facilitating collaboration going forward and I’m expecting that there will also be an opportunity for a wide range of stakeholders to debate the findings and have an input before any report recommendations. I would encourage stakeholders of all ages to share their views to stimulate national debate to reach a national consensus. What do you think?” James Cathcart (Dir YVH and former CEO of British Youth Council 2008-2016.
UPDATE from Esther NYA, 05/11/2024
“The British Youth Council (BYC) ran the National Youth Council for the UK until its closure in March 2024. NYA is working to restore the institution to become an independent, young people-led charity [Ed – NYA had originally left the governance structure open to consultation – so people can suggest alternatives]. The intention is to work with young people and partners of the former BYC to enable the organisation to become an independent charitable entity, whose sole purpose is to represent the views of young people to government and decision makers.
The NYA has designed a comprehensive consultation exercise to gather the views of stakeholders on the value and future of a National Youth Council, the Young Ambassador programme and the role of youth voice and influence in the political infrastructure. The project will involve a mix of focus groups with young people, group discussions and interviews with key stakeholders as well as an online survey (from November – December 2024). Youth voice is integral to the process, with young people with experience in youth voice supporting the co-production and delivery of a number of focus groups.
The feedback received through the various consultation activities will be analysed and will inform a recommendations report and proposal for potential funders and commissioners in March 2025.
There are two ways to engage in the formal consultation: an online digital consultation for stakeholders to complete and a youth-led focus group activity. Both can be accessed via the links below.
Take the survey As part of the consultation, we are running a public survey to gather views on the future of the UK’s National Youth Council. Please take the time to complete the survey, which should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.
Conduct a focus group We also encourage you to support the young people you work with to conduct a youth-led focus group to gather views on the future of the UK’s National Youth Council. We’ve put together a handy 7-step ‘How To’ Guide along with a Topic Guide to support easy facilitation of the session. Contact James Cathcart to explore time/date for him to help as a free facilitator to cohost. Findings need to be submitted to nyc.consultation@nya.org.uk by 31 December 2024.
Find everything you need to know to plan and conduct your focus group here.
Learn more about the consultation here. Thank you for taking the time to support this piece of work, we are committed to amplifying the voices of all stakeholders who engage with this consultation.”
ESTHER (NYA) 05/11/24.
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“Young Voices Heard” is working on a Options Paper to explore difference governance models for a refreshed national youth council. The UK was one of, if not the first, national youth councils, set up in 1948. It was originally a Government (FCO) supported international delegation of representatives nominated by the nations national youth organisations, from NUS, uniformed groups and faith organisations. It became an independent charity in the sixties and its membership base continued to be organisations, but now included representation of a growing number of local youth council network, and other local voluntary sector groups. Whilst individual membership was considered and it was challenged with the establishment of the UK Youth Parliament network and Young Mayors locally elected models, which it eventually absorbed. Its final governance model was as an incorporated charity who Board was no longer elected from its members, but by its members, and for the last few years, some young trustees were appointed. There are other models of governance and organisation of representative voice to explore- ranging from a semi-autonomous body like the Children’s Commissioner, or a Cooperative model, or a social enterprise, and some who have Royal Charter approval. The last Government commissioned work (2008-2010) into youth engagement – The Youth Citizenship Commission – (which included Votes at 16) recommended that the UK Youth Parliament be managed and funded by Parliament on a sustainable basis! Which model will allow sustainability, be youthled, independent, inclusive and officially recognised by Government nationally, and in the nations? Join the debate!