YouthVoice Heard – Profile and Platform
Maurizio Cuttin, UK Young Ambassador to Europe (British Youth Council/NYA) reflects on the role of #youthvoice, #equalvoice, and #collaboration in achieving this win.
PROFILE
Maurizio (24), from Reading, is a Warwick graduate and currently works as a governance consultant. A passionate advocate for international youth affairs and a youth voice champion, he was first elected in late 2021 as one of two UK Young Ambassadors to the European Youth Forum – a role that will continue under the British Youth Council’s successor organisation, Youth Council UK (YCUK) which is being installed by the National Youth Agency and which is currently open for new member nominations.
In this role, Maurizio has dedicated considerable time as a volunteer to rebuilding the UK youth sector’s international reputation, especially in the aftermath of Brexit. He has collaborated with key partners across Europe and nationally, from the EU Delegation to the UK, Chatham House and several government departments to promote intercultural learning and cross-border youth mobility. Together with a team of three other international representatives, Maurizio also played a key role in ensuring the continuation of BYC’s international representation under new management during the transition to YCUK, not only during the charity’s insolvency crisis, but also as a core member of the National Youth Agency’s ‘Youth Advisory Group’ in 2025.
Maurizio has remained a committed campaigner for restoring UK participation in Erasmus+[i]. His voluntary work was first recognised with a Diana Award in 2024.
PLATFORM: On Erasmus+, #YouthVoice and Collaboration
Background
In December 2025, the Government announced that it would be rejoining the EU’s flagship Erasmus Plus scheme from 2027. Erasmus+ is an EU programme that ‘provides grant funding for international placements and partnership projects for organisations working in education, training, youth and sport. It aims to help people improve their education, gain work experience, and grow personally by offering chances to study, learn and volunteer across Europe. The majority of the 100,000 per year expected to benefit will be aged 13-30.
The UK was part of Erasmus+ until 2020. Re-associating to Erasmus+ will create new opportunities for a wide range of young people to take part in international activities. One of its strands – the pillar on youth structured dialogue – used to support meaningful youth participation and civic engagement in the UK, which helped to sustain much of the work of the British Youth Council (BYC).
What’s your reaction to the government’s announcement on Erasmus+?
“It’s a historic moment. After years of uncertainty, we’ve got the deal over the line. Four years ago, when the British Youth Council began campaigning for Erasmus+ alongside Young European Movement UK and Erasmus Student Network UK, we were told by officials that Erasmus+ was a lost cause. Fast forward to today: come 2027, it will be back! The youth sector mobilised, pressed ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomats, and never gave up. This is the power of collective action”
How significant was it that a British “youth voice” was heard around the table in achieving this?
Having a seat on the UK Domestic Advisory Group was crucial. As a scheme, Erasmus+ is often misunderstood and underestimated, so direct access to senior officials, UK negotiators and the minister responsible for relations with the EU made a real difference. That said, the real turning point was the youth sector coming together – pressing parliamentarians, engaging the media and rallying a wider coalition of civil society partners across sectors, including further education, the arts and sports. That collective effort created the momentum that led to the success we saw on 18 December.
There is more work to do – what are the next steps and possible agenda for UK youth voice in Europe?
Plenty remains, especially on Erasmus+. The government has committed to rejoin for one year, 2027, the final year of the EU’s current MFF. A 10-month review will assess implementation and shape future negotiations. For the scheme to endure, we must show strong demand from young people nationwide. A UK national agency will also need to be appointed, and for it to stand a chance of best promoting the scheme, work will need to be done to promote the “+”, which covers non-formal education and youth voice.
What are the implications for embedding youth voice in advisory and decision-making bodies going forward, such as the successor to the British Youth Council – YCUK?
I’m biased here, as I serve on the Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe, where decisions are co-produced by youth leaders and government representatives from 46 countries. That said, giving young people an equal voice matters. While I wasn’t a CEO or policy director like most UK DAG members, being in the room allowed me to elevate youth concerns, which is particularly important considering they are the generation hardest-hit by Brexit. It also allowed me to (gently) correct misconceptions about young people’s views on international mobility and inject fresh ideas. I think my DAG colleagues would agree it’s been an eye-opening and rewarding experience for everyone.
Will access to Erasmus+ funding provide more opportunities for youth-led dialogue, and what’s your vision for it?
Absolutely! If the government invests in outreach and grassroots engagement in a way similar to how Wales sought to implement the Taith scheme, a replacement vehicle for Erasmus+, mark my words, Erasmus+ will truly open doors for young people from all backgrounds to explore the world.
My vision is simple: a scheme that fosters intercultural learning, tolerance and democratic values, giving young people the opportunities they deserve to make connections and make their mark. That’s why investing in proper outreach matters so much!
[i] As well as speaking publicly, such as an interview to LBC last year. *Maurizio co-authored an influential report on EU-UK Youth Engagement at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which helped solidify the EU’s stance on youth mobility as a top negotiating priority.
Following its publication in Spring 2024, Maurizio later secured (on behalf of the National Youth Agency) a seat on the UK Domestic Advisory group, a trade body responsible for holding the UK and the European Commission to account under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Once appointed, Maurizio continued to campaign on behalf of young people, bringing their voice directly to ministers and senior negotiators within the Cabinet Office.