Welcome to #YouthVoice News and Opportunities – a regular roundup from the world of youthvoice, participation and influence
This week: || Bite Back Young Activists success | Lottery Fund appoints young trustees | 18-24 voting intentions | Roundtables | Votesat16Watch .. plus lots of opportunities to ‘have your say’ / join advisory boards .. with thanks to Youth Opportunities co-founded by Molly Taylor and Rorey Scriven | YouthVoice News is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer.
YOUTHVOICE HEARD – NEWS
⚡Youth Voice and Campaign “Bite Back” Success. Free School Meals extended to 1/2 million more children in schools. The Young Activists of “Bite Back” are thrilled at the latest Govt Announcement to extend number of free schools meals, This been one of their key campaign asks: “The Government’s announcement on free schools meals is more than policy; it’s progress. And for Bite Back’s activists, it’s personal. We’ve been campaigning for fairer access to free school meals since day one — that’s six years. In that time, we’ve seen many highs and lows along the way, but we’ve never given up. Read our journey to this victory, and why our campaigners are celebrating extra hard .https://bb2030.co/pdq2 – Today, we’ve seen what that kind of determination and collaboration can achieve. This progress wouldn’t have been possible without a shared commitment to protecting child health and challenging the status quo. A huge thank you to all our partners who have stood with us on this journey. Now, let’s keep going — until EVERY child gets the nutritious food they deserve, every single day”
⚡UK Unicef Ambassador Dev Sharma appointed UK Unicef Ambassador . Dev is a former member of the Youth Parliament, and campaigner at BiteBack.
YVH Comment – youth voice and influence comes in many different forms – ranging from the double benefit of ‘youth work’ youth participation, ‘democratic representation’ through the polling/ballot box (Make Your Mark, UK Youth Parliament), to campaigning around a single cause of issue around a youth-led agenda, they care about. Many young people start their youthvoice journey in one sphere and progress to another. Sometimes using existing platforms but also progressing to creating their own. Dev Sharma is just one example of hundreds of young people that give me the hope that future leaders will increasingly bring a vast range of experience from an earlier age to the table. Their collective ‘Youth Social Action’ will not only have an impact today – but inform and influence their leadership tomorrow.” Ed/JC
⚡PM hosts school exclusions round table with young people and Sir Lewis Hamilton to discuss his foundation’s report Mission 44 (NothingInIsolation) on their impact. Ndidi Okezie OBE was there and posted her impression from the meeting on Linkedin. The same post also reports on a second ‘political’ roundtable that she attended with ….
⚡Lord John Mann and the National Union of Students (UK) hosted a roundtable conversation on democracy, disinformation, and the risks of political disengagement. They mapped the growing mistrust in democratic systems and the role of online conspiracies in shaping belief systems, particularly among young people. Linkedin.
“The public square is no longer physical or institutional. It’s cultural. It’s digital. And it moves fast. We can’t keep writing and shelving pretty reports while conspiracies go viral in 60-second clips. Nor can we stay our bubbles and silos while influencers, some of them deeply harmful, are speaking directly to millions of young people every day” Ndidi Okezie OBE.
YVH Comment – Ndidi’s points are well made and a challenge to us all. Are adult-led spaces for youth-voice are still fit for purpose if they take place when the ‘older’ generation still like to meet around tables and commissions reports in ‘bubbles and silos’? Can we break out by mobilising virtual space with young communicators leading the way? There are examples of youth-led space-making that facilitates such cross over. At a time when the national debate is about the architecture of youthvoice platforms (eg National Youth Council) we need to make space for innovation, and a spot of co-production of the ways and means to conduct meaningful dialogue, communication and action?” Ed/JC
⚡The National Lottery Community Fund appoints young people to its board and regional board for the first time- “Today, we’re delighted to announce that we have appointed four young people to our board and Country Committees for the very first time. The appointments – which include Ellie (UK), Holly (Scotland), Caolan (Northern Ireland), Callum (Wales) and Millie (England) – will ensure that young people across the UK have a say in the things we do, the decisions we make, and the way we support generations to come. Our young committee members will bring their lived experience, coupled with extensive knowledge of the area they represent, to make decisions about our largest funding programmes (over £500,000) and advise on the future of our funding strategy. Our young board member – Ellie – will also work with the board to set the Fund’s long-term strategy and key policies. Each of our new recruits bring a diverse set of skills and experience, yet they are united in their passion and drive to make a real difference for the next generation. Find more links about the pioneering track record of the NLCF commitment to youth participation here, and the reflections of their CEO @DavidKnott here .
YVH Comment “Funders are key influencers, now being themselves influenced at the highest level. Other will follow their lead – supporting, listening and sharing power and decisions with young leaders. This has been possible because the leadership of NLCF is open and responsive – so respect to CEO David (formerly of DCMS), chair Dame Julia Cleverdon (formerly iwill and much more) and Head of Youth Voice, Jo Rich. It would be great if Government departmental boards follow their lead were to recruit young reps/leaders onto their boards so that youthvoice and influence was not just the result of consultation or representation, but embedded in governance on an equal footing with other lay members. Ed/JC
⚡Votes at 16 Watch – news from Jan to June can be found on the main Votesat16 Watch column on the main landing page of the http://www.YoungVoicesHeard.org.uk home page. YOUNG VOICES HEARD – CONSULTANCY, SHARING GOOD PRACTICE, SUPPORT SERVICES
⚡Youth Voice voting intentions – You Gov Tracker (9th June 2025) Labour still has biggest vote share (33%) with Green in second place (24%), Lib Dems and Reform (16%) Reform 13% and Conservative (7%) . Will the introduction of Votes at 16 legislation prompt polling companies to survey 16-27 year olds – not jus ton voting intentions, but on policies, and will this is turn start to influence parties policies towards young people, and stimulate calls for political education, information how to make an informed vote, and more media attention of what young people care about.
YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES – Editors pick…Youth Opportunities 9th June edition | LinkedIn “for young people, curated by young people”. Below is just a selection of its opportunities that relate to #youthvoice Advisory Board roles – but check out the full issue for lots more – and subscribe!
Advisory Boards -YVH pick..
⚡Action for Children is inviting passionate young people aged 13 to 25 from across the UK to apply for their Young Ambassadors Board, a youth-led group helping to shape the charity’s work and ensure young voices are heard at every level. As a Young Ambassador, you’ll attend monthly online meetings, contribute to key projects on issues like mental health, disability, family support, and care experience, and provide direct input to senior leaders and trustees. Members may also take part in events and campaigns, gaining valuable skills and experience along the way. The programme is free to join, with travel costs covered for any in-person activities. Applications are open on a rolling basis, so apply as soon as possible by contacting youthvoice@actionforchildren.org.uk.
⚡Children in Scotland is inviting young people aged 8 to 22 to join its youth advisory group, Changing Our World. This group plays a vital role in shaping the organisation’s work by sharing experiences and perspectives on issues that matter to children and young people. Members participate in regular meetings—both online and in person—collaborate on projects, contribute to policy development, and engage with decision-makers. Recent initiatives have included co-chairing the annual conference, developing a paper on education and learning, and meeting with government ministers to discuss youth health concerns. This is a voluntary role with no salary, but it offers valuable experience and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Applications are open until 14 July 2025.
⚡Fair Education Alliance is recruiting 12 new Youth Steering Group members to help campaign for a fairer education system. Applicants must be aged 14–21 on 1st August 2025, live in England, and be passionate about reducing educational inequality. No prior experience or qualifications are needed. Priority will be given to underrepresented young people, especially those from the care system, alternative provision, or from London, the North East, or South West. Apply by midnight on 22nd June 2025 here: https://lnkd.in/darz9b-H
⚡UNESCO SDG4 Youth & Student Network 16-30? Applications are open for the 2026–2027 , a global platform for young leaders passionate about advancing quality education (SDG4). Members, aged 16–30, will contribute to education policy, advocacy, and innovation, and serve as youth representatives on the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee. The two-year term starts in January 2026, with onboarding from October 2025. Applicants must be active in a youth or student organisation related to education and free from conflicts of interest. Deadline: 10 July 2025 (midnight Paris time) Apply here
Trustee positions
Interested in becoming a trustee? Only 3% of trustees are under the age of 30. Find under-30 friendly trustee boards through Young Trustees Movement
VoiceBox | By young people, for young people
“The international content platform by young people for young people. Create content on the topics you care about and get paid!” VoiceBox is an international youth-led content platform and social enterprise, whose mission is to amplify the voices of young people around the world. We feature a wide variety of topics and formats of content from people aged 13-25. Become a paid content creator
RESOURCES – Eds pick
⚡Understanding Youth Social Action 2025 A new report Understanding Youth Social Action includes an exploration of the role of youth voice and influence with the broader context of a detailed exploration of London’s Youth Ecosystem. The research underpinning the report was conducted by the Centre for Applied Research in Empowering Society
⚡UK Youth Poll 2025 – John Smith Centre published a poll of 16-29 year olds in February 2025 across the UK . 63% optimistic about their personal future – Don’t believe all the doom and gloom about young people in the UK today. Most say they are still optimistic and that their lives will be better than their parents’. ; 57% prefer to live in a democracy rather than a dictatorship – However, young people think UK democracy is in trouble and their optimism is tempered by financial anxiety; 33% difference between full-time workers and those out of work in political activity. The poll reveals that young peoples’ attitudes, their sense of agency and their willingness to contribute to society diverge significantly due to their life circumstances, by where they live, and by who they are. Link summarises report, but you can download the full copy as well.
⚡The Politics Project : Local Government – free introduction event Join The Politics Project for a free online event on Thursday, 12th June 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 on Zoom. This session invites young people to explore a future in local government by hearing directly from sitting councillors across the political spectrum. Learn what the role involves, why youth voices are vital in local politics, and how to start your journey toward becoming a councillor.
⚡Voting Age’, Parliamentary Research Briefing, House of Commons Feb 25 Neil Johnstone, available online. SN01747.pdf This is the latest briefing prepared for UK Parliamentarians in response to the Governments plans to introduce legislation. Includes factual information and research covering the whole of the UK and some international examples.
For other YVH recommended resources go to the http://www.YoungVoiceHeard.org.uk main website / RESOURCES, or browse back issues of #YouthVoiceNews