Welcome to #YouthVoice News and Opportunities – a regular roundup from the world of youthvoice, participation and influence

This week: | Coming up Sept-Nov | Rec Reads and Resources from YouthVoiceHeard | Votesat16 watch – still no Minister, Campaigners need to plan for 2026  | Youth Opportunities | YouthVoice News is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer.

YOUTHVOICE HEARD – NEWS

⚡What’s coming up Sept – Nov 2025

Summer is traditionally when the nation takes a break, ‘schools out’ and parliament’s in recess. Many parents take time off to go on family holidays. (I went to Devon and Northern Ireland!) However, from a #youthvoice and participation perspective, it’s also a time when young people are more available to attend events, especially those who have been preoccupied with examples in the run-up to summer.  The UK Youth Parliament held its annual conference and the old British Youth Council scheduled residential leadership training and its Annual Council Meeting at this time of year, so that young reps could attend in person.  However, an older perspective calender sometimes forgets to ‘make space’  for youth voice to be heard when it works for young people. So what’s coming up where can youthvoice be heard? JC/Ed

Sept: Party conferences season. Many young people will be supported by their host organisations to attend party conferences during September. Many opportunities are coordinated at the ‘YouthZone’ [@CitadelCommunications] at the traditional Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems events. [Details coming up] But the political landscape is changing. How will lobbying/charities/orgs respond to the challenge of supporting representation at other/smaller party events to ensure every #youthvoice (agreeing and disagreeing) is heard and is influential.

I remember when the British Youth Council members were regular attendees at conferences during its boom years, and because membership was open to the youth wings of political parties, and we had MPs as Honorary Presidents from the three largest parties, we were able to host fringe meetings, receptions and arrange private meetings with Ministers.  JC/ED)

30th Sept: The Centre For Youth Voice will relaunch on 30th September 4 -6 pm. Details and invitation Here.

18th Oct: Next Gen Conference (UK youth in democracy) for those aged 16-30/ Min of Sound https://lnkd.in/e5g6SefD

November: UK Youth Parliament Annual Sitting, House of Commons – UKYP members only but broadcast on ParltTV

November: NYA future of the Youth Council (formerly BYC) event/meeting – still awaiting information on who can attend and whether it will be accessible to young reps – but you can register an Expression of Interest/log questions with NYA. “If your organisation is passionate about supporting young people to shape national decision-making, we encourage you to register your interest HERE and be a part of this exciting new chapter.”

If you have an event open to all, or of significant interest – let us know. 

⚡Resources and Recommended Reads: A guide to what’s in the YoungVoicesHeard/Resources website, and Recommended Reads from back issues of #YouthVoiceNews

1/ Young Voices Heard was founded in 2016 by James Cathcart to provide a free, accessible “Resource Bank” of ‘good practice’ and ‘research’ from the last 30 years. Ranging from academic articles, to blogs, tools, powerpoints and video clips, with many of the familiar sources like Hart and Lundy – to some lesser-known but important contributions by young people. Some are clustered by topic, such as Votesat16WatchResources, which includes a 25-year timeline history campaign. Another recent addition is the British Youth Council (closed in 2024) library with relevant public information about the former British Youth Council and UK Youth Parliament, such a Governance, Rule Books and Manifestos. Here you can also find the Youth Honour List and resources on how to nominate, which is part of YVHs Campaign 4Youth Recognition.

Click & Browse these headings

2/ #YouthVoiceNews was launched in January 2025 as a free news platform. Building on YVHs 8 years of blogs the new format has now published over 30 weekly editions. Below is a guide to some back issues highlighting Recommended Reads and Resources. Click and Browse specific links below or you can browse the whole archive here News/Blogs Page

Recommended Reads from past editions of YouthVoiceNews

⚡ Bangladesh: “Youth Voice Mechanism being established to inform and influence Govt Policy”  

⚡USA: ” The Youth Voice Shouldn’t Be Optional — It Should Be Mandatory – The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint

⚡ UK “What is Tokenism in Youth Voice – and can we always avoid it?”

⚡USA: “The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)”

⚡Report on Media literacy – “The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report“

⚡Youth Work  and Political Education – Policy Briefing research paper – Carole Pugh

⚡ Twelve Myths About Participation. Laura Lundy has recently posted this handy 12 point deck resource on common misconceptions around #youthvoice and participation.

⚡The Diana Award – Young Advisors – Youth Voice Charter : A new resource for their work but published for anyone to use.

⚡Voting Age’, Parliamentary Research Briefing, House of Commons Feb 25 Neil Johnstone, available online. SN01747.pdf  

⚡ Votesat16 Roadmap Recommendations (Democracy Classroom/Politics Project.

⚡Votesat16 – House of Lords briefing blog  Following Labour’s manifesto commitment to lower the voting age to 16, this briefing considers the potential impact on turnout, electoral outcomes and democratic engagement.

⚡UK Youth Poll 2025 – John Smith Centre & Video of findings (published April, covering a poll in Feb 2025 and interviews prior to that) UK wide poll of youth views. Its comprehensive and covers those aged 16-29.

⚡Campaign4YouthRecognition

⚡Kings Birthday (2026) Honours nominations – deadline 19th September – See last week’s YouthVoiceNews19thSept for details and support on how to nominate so that we can boost the number of youngleaders/youthvoice champions on the Youth Honours List.

⚡Votesat16Watch – Expect ministerial announcement next week

Votesat16 still not over the line yet, and the next Kings Speech isn’t due until March 2026. So lobbying/campaigning will need to continue during 2026, to ensure the legislation and delivery are the best they can be. But the Government is unpopular and under pressure. Are current high-profile campaigns funded beyond March 2026 and at risk of peaking too soon? It’s sure to be a topic driven by youthvoice at Party conferences which kick off this weekend.

⚡Votes at 16 Watch – still NO MINISTER! – but expect an announcement in PM reshuffle next week!

Votesat16 is not in the current legislative programme, which is scheduled to last until March 2026 when the next King’s Speech is expected.  Rushanara Ali MP was the Minister driving this and whilst she confirmed the Government’s commitment to introduce legislation, she has yet to be replaced. An announcement is expected next week. However, officials will still be working on details in preparation for a Spring King’s Speech – and then it will be up to the Leader of the House/Parliament to schedule the first reading. There will be opportunities for amendments (and opposition)  during Committee stages in both the Commons and the Lords. So YES, campaigners need to keep engaged – seek early meetings with the new Minister – to make sure the Government doesn’t get cold feet. They might, however, want to change their focus to ensuring votes at 16 meets all their expectations and recommendations in detail – such as accompanying measures of auto-voter registration, and education in schools – and to lobby MPs to ensure the legislation reflects this, and if not, that they lobby MPs and submit evidence to support amendments to the legislation during the parliamentary session commencing April 2026 onwards.

[So any campaigns that are funded this financial year ending March 26, will need to seek an extension to their campaign plans and budgets to ensure young people and supporters continue their work. It’s not over til its over.  JC/Ed.

⚡New Blog – Mixed views on impact at the next General Election – Government plans to lower voting age across the UK – Nouse

In other news.. you may have missed

⚡Centre for Youth Voice Relaunch 30th Sept – invite

The Centre For Youth Voice will relaunch on 30th September 4 -6 pm. Details and invitation Here. This event will be hosted by Young Ambassadors and the Network of Regional Youth Work Units. The event will launch the new website, profile the training offers and resources that will be available for practitioners and young people, as well as discuss areas for future development. (see YouthVoiceNews 18th Aug for more info.)

⚡NYA call for organisations to register an “Expression of Interest to learn more about becoming an organisational member of the new National Youth Council” (to replace the British Youth Council)

The National Youth Agency’s next steps in their plans for the restoration of a replacement body for the British Youth Council (which closed in March 2024) include an invitation to organisations to register their EOI asap. They had previously facilitated a consultation process during 2024, resulting in a report (What the Future Holds) and recommendations published in March 2025. Their Young Consultants helped to design the process. Since then, Lloyd Russell-Moyle (former MP and trustee of BYC) was appointed as a consultant to help deliver the follow-up. A Youth Advisory Group and an Expert Advisory Group were recruited (both by invite or nomination, it’s not clear yet who they are) and have been “working collaboratively between March and July 2025 to co-design a sustainable and inclusive infrastructure for the new Council.”  NYA have now posted an update on their website, including the invitation to ‘organisations’ across the UK to register an Expression of Interest to learning more about becoming an organisational member of the new National Youth Council. If your organisation is passionate about supporting young people to shape national decision-making, we encourage you to register your interest HERE and be a part of this exciting new chapter.”

We’ve written to those leading this process for some more information and are still waiting for an update … but you can use the Register of Int form to at least get on their mailing list and use the space in the short form to ask any questions.

 

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

The regular “Youth Opportunities” – is taking a break, so we’ve checked out other sources for this week’s opportunities. Fee free to send us yours direct info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk 

Advisory Boards

⚡EY Foundation (funder) Youth Advisory Board: 16-25 – England/Scotland? The YAB is a group of 12 young people, aged 16-25 from across England and Scotland who act as advisors to the EY Foundation. All expenses paid. YAB members sit on the board for two years and are responsible for bringing a young person’s perspective into every area of the EY Foundation’s work. As ‘Advocates for Change’, YVF members will be proactive in supporting our organisation to create systemic change for young people from low, addressing youth unemployment issues and social mobility. As part of their role YAB members: Attend quarterly YAB meetings to provide comments and feedback on key plans before they are taken to the Board of Trustees; Work with the EY Foundation team in a variety of ways including attending meetings, sharing feedback and ideas, contributing to social media or speaking at events; Have the opportunity to work on their own projects related to the EY Foundation. Apply to join our Youth Voice Forum 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMG9SqEi Head to our website to find our recruitment handbook, information on eligibility, and how to sign up to our information sessions 👉 https://lnkd.in/eGD6YTWC  Deadline 26th Sept  YVH quality pick – “one of the most thorough role recruitment/specs Ive come across/JC/Ed”

UNICEF Youth Advisory Board 14-18? UNICEF UK are seeking applications from 14 to 18-year-olds who can commit to a full two-year term. Full Details HERE.  The group works as a team via video calls and in-person meetings. Members engage with UNICEF UK’s efforts by speaking out for children’s rights and sharing their insights and new ideas. They also help spread awareness through their networks, enabling other young people to better understand our work. Applications close 10pm 21 September: a process co-created with our current YAB members.

⚡YoungMinds Youth Panel offers young people the chance to shape the charity’s work by providing insight on strategy, safeguarding, fundraising, and organisational decisions. Panel members help guide the future of YoungMinds while gaining experience in the ‘behind the scenes’ of a charity. Apply by 29th September.

⚡Coram Voice is seeking care-experienced young people (16–25) to join its Youth Advisory Board for 18 months (with possible extension). Members will help shape plans, join projects, and meet with managers and trustees through monthly online meetings, four in-person London meetings a year, and training. Support and expenses for travel/accommodation are provided. Voluntary role. Details Here – apply by 12 September 2025.

⚡Join the Electoral Commission’s Youth Voice Network for Scotland and help shape the future of democracy. If you’re aged 12 to 18, live in Scotland and are keen to find out more then download our information sheet.  You’ll meet (online and in-person) around four times a year to share views, create resources, and contribute to national campaigns on voting. Recruitment is open from June to September 2025. Learn more and apply here.  by end of Sept 25

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

 

For  other YVH recommended resources go to the http://www.YoungVoiceHeard.org.uk main website / RESOURCES, or browse back issues of #YouthVoiceNews

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