#YouthVoiceNews | 5th March

Editor

2 months ago

“Engagement without feedback isn’t participation. It’s extraction. And our young people deserve better.” [Recommended Reads⬇️] .. and

⭐MPs vote 410/105 Votes at 16: parties support 2nd Reading in Commons debate
⭐’Pathway to Votes at 16′ strategy day: Sixty plus orgs to attend/Minister
⭐Social Media Consultation: surveys launched
⭐New May Election Countdown/Resources: Democracy Classroom/Politics Project
📅Coming up: Your Vote Week 26 – Electoral Commission
👀Recommended Reads – Jade Barnett | Hudl
👀Opportunities for young people/supporters
👀Free Training & Resources

Welcome to #YouthVoice News & Opportunities: your regular round up from the world of youthvoice, participation, and influence. #YouthVoiceNews is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer. Join 600 practitioners and young leaders – subscribe to get this free Newsletter via LinkedIn here. (& access back issues). And Tag Us #YouthVoiceNews or @YouthVoiceHeard so we can highlight your youthvoice

NEWS – Votes at 16: MPs in favour 410, against 105

⭐House of Commons passes 2nd Reading of Votesat16 Bill (2nd March) by 410/105 “Having watched the debate on the Representation of the People Bill I’m filled with more confidence than ever that lowering the voting age is a positive step for our democracy and a strive towards engaging more young people in the decision-making process. The groundwork is in place to implement the change in law, but many MPs mentioned the need to improve political and citizenship education, and that is what we are pushing for through our petition.” Alex Nurton, Chair of the Votes at 16 Committee for UKYP. For more quotes from the debate itself and reaction of other parties to the legislation proposed by the Government go to the new Votesat16 Watch home page / or see Hansard for full debate here. / or Watch on Parliament TV from 17.52 pm

⚡Pathway to Votes at 16: Strategy Day / March 12th. Stakeholders from a votes at 16 network coordinated by Politics Project have been invited to a day-long series of presentations and workshops to start the process of working towards implementation of the legislation, with attendees including Government officials from DCMS/ Education/ Democracy Team, the Electoral Commission and the Parliamentary Education Service. Samantha Dixon MP will be addressing the meeting. [If you are a V16 young campaigner/rep and able to attend, get in touch/we’ll see what we can do./Ed]

👀Votesat16 Watch news and views has moved to its own rolling page of updates
👀For more V16 information & resources click YoungVoicesHeard/Resources/Votesat16Watch

⚡Government announced social media ban consultation “We are consulting on further measures to prepare children for the future in an age of rapid technological change. This includes potential age restrictions on social media and other services such as gaming sites and AI chatbots, restrictions on addictive design features and risky functionalities, and better support for parents and families. This [survey] consultation closes at 11:59pm on 26 May 2026 There are 3 surveys to choose from. Full consultation for anyone (civil society, industry and members of the public); parents/carers of yp aged 21 and under; & survey for c&yp (aged 10 to 21)”. Read More

⚡Election Countdown 26 – to May elections for young voters : Starting next Monday, 9th March, Democracy Classroom are launching a weekly newsletter of resources to “help you support young people to engage with the elections this May”. Sign up now https://lnkd.in/e3C3xC4p. For the next 8 school weeks, you’ll get practical resources and key updates straight to your inbox, including short, ready-to-use sessions designed specifically for the May elections. You can also sign up for the Wales-specific version of hashtagElectionCountdown 2026 focused on the Senedd elections, and available every week in both Welsh and English. | Also check out the Politics Project (who coordinate Democracy Classroom) new one stop Resource Hub for schools and democracy engagement practitioners/young leaders. Read more.

DONT MISS..

Your Vote Week 2026 “My name is Judy and I work in the Voter Education and Partnerships team at the Electoral Commission.  I am getting in touch to let you know that Welcome to Your Vote Week 2026 will take place Monday 9 March to Sunday 15 March – annual week celebrating democratic education. We invite all schools, youth groups and anyone who works with young people to join us in supporting young people to learn about democracy and voting. The theme will be ‘Why Voting Matters’. The focus is on supporting young people to explore why voting is important to them and discuss the impact their vote can have on their everyday life.

Webinar – Young Voices Heard on Democracy – Youth Tracker survey results webinar 10th March 11-12. new insights from year two of the Electoral Commissions ‘Youth Tracker’ survey, based on the views of 2,500 young people aged 11 to 25. Learn how education, family and information sources shape engagement, and explore practical ways to build young people’s knowledge, confidence and skills to participate in democracy. “Educators and young people are welcome to join this event – come along and be part of shaping the future of democratic participation”. Register free here”

⭐Inspiration Youth Awards – Short List Announced/ Voting open now, deadline 8th March. You will recognise many of the #youthvoice champions on the shortlist – get voting now! Read More / Vote Here | The categories include:

‘Young Campaigner of the Year’
‘Young Influencer of the Year’
‘Young Activist of the Year’
‘Young Leader of the Year’

➡️Recommended Read/Listen : Editor’s pick from #youthvoice influencers/commentators on LinkedIn/Links to Podcasts…

⭐Esmee Fairburn / HUDL collective podcast on Read / The episode highlights what’s at stake when participation is more than a “nice to have”, the realities of advocating within institutions, and how young people’s perspectives are shaping funding conversations.Watch More

⭐Jade Barnett, Founder/CEO of PowertoPrevail – on young people’s engagement with politics – “When there were conversations on lowering the voting age. I had to ask: lowering it for who? For the same young people who are already politically engaged? The ones who have access, exposure, and encouragement to understand the system? Because from where I stand, that still creates a limited pool of voices”….. “Engagement without feedback isn’t participation. It’s extraction. And our young people deserve better.” [A challenging must read! Ed] Read More

OPPORTUNITIES to “mobilise your youthvoice”

[Note – all opps are based on info from hosting organisations. We endeavour to include accurate age range, dates and deadlines – but for up to date info check with the organisers]

YOUTH VOICE OPPORTUNITIES

#IWill Movement Ambassadors [Recommended for individuals who are not necessarily part of youth orgs – eg single issue campaigners, volunteers 10-25 , UK] Through your social action, Ambassadors inspire other yp to join the movement, and collaborate with partners and orgs, playing a pivotal role in shaping and leading change. You are provided with exclusive opps to develop leadership skills, through the enhanced support offered by #iWill. Apply or nominate via the link below by 29th March, Apply or nominate here! You can also sign up to our Live Q&A event on 3 March at 4:30 PM to learn more/ hear from our current ambassadors: https://lnkd.in/eaxsDPiX / book here

Seen and Heard Events: Young people shaped the National Youth Strategy. Now it’s time to shape what it looks like locally. Seen & Heard events are taking place across England, creating space for young people to come together with local decision-makers to turn Youth Matters into action on the ground. These youth-led sessions are facilitated by young people involved in the #iWill Movement and are open to young people aged 21 and under (up to 25 with SEND), with accompanying adults welcome. 👉 Find an event and sign up via our Youth Matters events page: https://lnkd.in/eSKk23zP Read More

On Board Programme: Applications are now open for the OnBoard Programme, 🚨”Are you in the first ten years of your career and ready to make a difference by joining a board? If you’ve thought about becoming a board member but don’t know where to start, or you’ve recently joined a board and are still finding your feet, then the OnBoard Programme is designed for you. Read more APPLY NOW: www.eu.research.net/r/OBP6
DEADLINE: Wednesday 18th March 2026

⚡Trustee positions – Interested in becoming a trustee? Only 3% of trustees are under the age of 30. Find under-30-friendly trustee boards through the Young Trustees Movement

If you have a #youthvoice opportunity coming up, drop us a line info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk

SUPPORTERS OPPORTUNITIES

⚡Centre for Youth Voice: Free Training and Events/Newsletter Feb 26

⭐(Newsletter February 2026)Centre for Youth Voice – making its mark “We’re just getting started!” : Another excellent newsletter from the Centre4YV – with news, free training dates and resources. Newsletter here.

⭐Training: Multiple dates – Involving Young People in Services: Professor Kaz Stuart third of three training sessions around creating opportunities, supporting, and evaluating young people’s involvement in services. March 10^th – Evaluating Young People’s Involvement in Services

Multiple dates – Peer Research Toolkit Training: Based on the toolkit, we are delivering 90-minute training sessions on different aspects of the peer research approach, with presentations and Q&As.

March 3^rd – Ethics, safeguarding, and data protection
March 17^th – Conducting fieldwork with peer researchers
April 14^th – Involving young people in analysis
April 28^th – Impact and embedding participation

RECORDINGS/SLIDES Based on the Peer Research Toolkit 2025 released in November, we have been running a series of free seminars since January. The first three recordings, and accompanying presentation slides, have now been put on the Centre for Youth Voice. Matthew Walsham, who put together the toolkit, goes through the beginning steps of a peer research project in these first three recordings: Watch the seminars here

Peer Research Toolkit Training 1: Introduction to peer research
Peer Research Toolkit Training 2: Setup, budgets, and scope
Peer Research Training 3: Recruitment, training, and research question

The Centre for Youth Voice is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by the Network of Regional Youth Work Units. Note: Publications/Resources are on the opening page and scroll down :).

⚡The Politics Project – Exploring Elections free Session : helps you support young people to engage confidently with upcoming elections in England. We’ll cover practical ways to start conversations about voting, how to discuss issues important to your area, and guide young people through registering to vote. With local elections taking place across the country in May 2026, this online training is ideal for youth practitioners preparing first-time voters for the elections ahead. Please sign up to the session most convenient to you: Youth Practitioners: |Tuesday 10th March, 11-12:30, sign up here

⚡ RESOURCES:

⭐DCMS Youth Team Newsletter/February 2026: Packed with news from the Youth Team about DCMS-supported initiatives and resources, and opportunities.

⭐Scottish Youth Parliament – Report on Annual meeting with First Minister/Cabinet by SYP ‘shadow cabinet’ in takeover day! See their Newsletter for more information plus news of campaigns / events and forthcoming SYP elections.

👀”Hurdles to the ballot box: Why voting is not a foregone conclusion for young people”] What can we learn from research in Germany? Jan Eichhorn introduces a new report based on research of 18-29 yr-olds, with a number of practical recommendations. “Voting is often shaped not by a lack of motivation, but by unequal starting conditions and structural obstacles”. Link to introduction and report. You will need to translate but its worth it..Read more

⚡Democracy Classroom election resources: The @ElectoralCommUK, @SeneddWales and @childcomwales have just released some new resources to support schools to engage with the 2026 Senedd elections. To download, and to access a whole host of Wales-specific support, head DC’s Senedd Elections Hub: democracyclassroom.com/senedd-electio

⭐Embedding Youth Voice at the National Lottery Community Fund – Recommended Read and Listen (Post & Podcast!) Joe Rich (Head of Youth Voice), Tia (former Youth Voice Advisor and now member of UK Fund Panel) and Loren member of Young People in the Lead Advisory Panel) and on how youthvoice has been embedded into the work of the National Lottery Fund – as advisors, decision-makers and partners in shaping change. Podcast co-produced by Be The Change – Interviewer @LilyMott.Recommended Read and Watch.

Spotlight: The National Lottery Community Fund: developing its approach to Youth Voice 28/1/26, “From decision-making to culture change” Youth Voice has shaped how the National Lottery Community Fund has operated for many years. Joe Rich, Head of Youth Voice, shares their approach, why culture change matters as much as decision-making, and how young people influence funding, governance and ways of working. Read More [Recommended Read/Ed]

For other YVH recommended resources, go to the www.YoungVoiceHeard.org.uk main website / RESOURCES.