Site icon YOUNG VOICES HEARD / YOUTH VOICE NEWS

#YouthVoiceNews 18th March

Editor

” Young people are ready to shape the systems that affect them. They have ideas, solutions and ambition. What they are asking for now is action”  Deborrah Terras on yp reaction to Youth Strategy at Seen&Heard event, in  “Recommended Reads”⬇️.. plus

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

National Lottery Community Fund to do more in leading and sharing youthvoice good practice:  Have your Say in shaping their agenda ..

NCLF are doing a short survey of organisations and professionals about how they can make youth voice an even higher priority.  In recent years, through their young advisors and development of a youth participation model, NCLF has aimed to inform, influence and support organisations’ understanding of meaningful participation – doubtless shaping how grants are prepared and programmes delivered. Your insights on impact and influence will help them understand what else they can do to support this. Joe Rich, Head of Youth Voice said “help us to understand what leadership we can offer in this space to do more of what works to ensure youth voice is front and centre to funding and policy”. Take this very short survey to “help us build stronger, more meaningful youth participation and help young people thrive”: https://lnkd.in/eayKggEx

[Young Voices Heard commends the NLCF as an exemplar of good practice.

We met and interviewed its young advisors in 2020 and still recommend their model  “Ways to Be” and “5 Things to Provide” Ed/JC]

Barnsley’s young people show politics matters to them as over 10,000 vote in Youth Council elections thats 71.9% of eligible 11-18 year-olds. Not all local authorities have the resources to hold open elections to their youth councils, and some don’t have a youth council at all. Barnsley stands out as an example of one that does.. Read more

👀Votesat16 Watch news and views has moved to its own rolling page of updates. 4 x new stories added this week on Commons Committee evidence by Andy Mycock (below),  Welsh Elections (below);  New MP inquiry and an LSE Blog.

⚡Andy Mycock gives evidence to Select Committee considering Votes at 16 Bill “I found the select committee had a strong understanding of the need to push beyond the repetitive arguments for & against ‘Votes at 16’, & focus on the substantive policy questions. In my evidence, I focused on four [five] key issues:  Read more.

⚡Votes at 16 in Wales -take two. Senedd election: Registering and voting |“This will be the second Senedd election at which the minimum voting age is 16 years old. Work is underway that aims to increase participation at this election, particularly among young people. This includes producing educational resources, such as school lesson plans.” Read More  

There are more stories this week in Votesat16Watch rolling news page HERE.

👀For more V16 information & resources, click  YVH/Resources/Votesat16Watch

Recommended Reads:

✍️ ‘Young People and Participation – Making It Real’: In December 2025, a consultation 2 x day ‘retreat’ at St George’s House, Windsor brought together a selection of twenty-four CEOs, specialists and advocates within childrens/youth orgs, for two days to share their ‘struggles and wisdom’. The group, which didn’t include young leaders this time, “focused on honest, uncomfortable conversations about the current effectiveness of their organisations and how to better include young people”. The report is packed with familiar, challenging topics and reflections. The main conclusion was that “collaboration across the sector offers exceptional opportunities for improvement and prevents organisations from wasting resources”. It’s worth checking out the other conclusions and in particular, the reaction of a panel of ‘young consultants’ who were invited to respond to a number of ‘provocations’ arising from the event – “If participation only works when young people are “exceptional”, it isn’t participation — it’s selection” • “If adults feel comfortable all the time, youth voice isn’t working”• “If adults control all the failure in youth participation, they probably control all the success too.”

United Nations – What is meaningful Youth Participation? Report – Beyond Tokenism – Ensuring young people have real influence in decision making”. Youth participation is not just a checkbox. It is about real influence and shared decision-making.

When young people co-lead, shape policies, and when institutions and stakeholders are accountable, participation moves beyond tokenism toward genuine collaboration. Read more for swipe through summary.

The Core Principles for Meaningful Youth Participation in Intergovernmental Processes and across the work of the United Nations/ UN Youth Office, 2026: How can young people participate in global decisions more meaningfully? A new framework to help make that happen: “This is an important step toward ensuring that young people are able to shape the global decisions that affect their lives. Swipe through to explore the 11 Core Principles, which highlight what effective youth participation should look like in practice — from rights-based approaches and inclusive access to safeguarding and accountability”. ReadMore for summary and report.

FUNDING

14-30? apply to the UN Empowerment Fund by 31st March 26 You are invited to apply with youth-led ideas that create positive community impact and contribute to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The YEF open call also has a special focus on supporting under-represented young people and communities affected by socio-economic, gender, disability, climate, or other forms of exclusion. Applications are open to individuals, youth groups and youth-led organizations. 📅 Deadline: 31 March 2026, 23:59 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/erSPeBfY   Read more 

 

Lead The Change: Funder Collaboration to support #Youth Participation Deadline for EOI 1st April : A Young Peoples panel will help decide this grant programme – and one of its aims will be to support great youth voice and influence in society by building “a national movement for youth‑led connection and change”Read more here on the announcement and here on the fund of 3.4 million over 3 years.

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

Deborah Terras CEO of United Youth Alliance – at a DCMS/iwillMovement “Seen and Heard” event in Blackpool, hears messages from local young people who  “.. still feel their voices are not being heard, recognised or respected, they want better career opportunities and work experience, they want safe spaces and youth clubs, they want activities, support, and a sense of belonging – Above all, they want change… The event demonstrated once again that young people are ready to shape the systems that affect them. They have ideas, solutions and ambition. What they are asking for now is action”. Read more

📢🎥The Forgotten Generation Podcast – This week’s episode features Stefano Di Rico, who is a mental health campaigner, My Life My Say Squad leader and young minds activist 2022- 2025. Hosted by Troy Njenje Mbanga. The podcast amplifying young people’s voices and the journeys they’re on! Watch here.

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

CONSULTATIONS

⚡Treasury Committee loans inquiry to inform Chancellor: Are you 16+? Have your say. MPs are seeking evidence on graduates’ repayment terms, including the extent to which they are reasonable and proportionate in the broader context of graduates’ marginal tax rates. Anyone over the age of 16 can contribute their experiences directly to the inquiry via online survey. Questions include whether they would take out the loan today if given the option and whether repayments are having a material impact on their financial planning. Read More and complete the survey by 14th April.

⚡Government announced social media ban consultation Deadline 26th May “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, AI chatbots and more..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)”.

AMBASSADORS

#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!

 

POLICY SHAPERS

ShoutOut UK are recruiting for its “Youth Policy Development Group” (A Young Voices Heard recommended initiative that we worked in partnership with SOUK to shape). “We’re looking for passionate individuals from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aged 14–25 to join the YPDG! This is your chance to dive into constructive policy research and drive real change through high-level discussions. Don’t miss out on being part of the next generation of policy-makers. Take part in research, connect with decision-makers and have your say on the issues that matter to you Deadline: Sunday, 29th March Read More and apply here 

Be The Change Media Network – Young Voices Heard is delighted to be partnering up with youth-led “Be The Change” sharing, promoting and encouraging youth led leading. Check out their podcasts and blogs! Recommended Resource ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| [Watch this space for more announcements! Ed/JC]

⚡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 – Training

⚡Centre for Youth Voice: Free Training and Events

⭐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 10th – 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.

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

  1. Peer Research Toolkit Training 1: Introduction to peer research
  2. Peer Research Toolkit Training 2: Setup, budgets, and scope
  3. 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 🙂

NEWSLETTERS

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

👀Scottish Youth Parliament –  Newsletter /February 2026: Includes Report on Annual meeting with First Minister/Cabinet by SYP ‘shadow cabinet’ in takeover day!  plus news of campaigns / events and forthcoming SYP elections.

👀Centre for Youth Voice – making its mark Newsletter & YP blog “We’re just getting started!” : Another excellent newsletter from the Centre4YV – with news, free training dates and resources.

👀ShoutOut UK – APPG on Media and Political Literacy “Welcome to the February edition of the APPG on Political and Media Literacy’s Stakeholder newsletter! The APPG has hit the ground running in 2026, and there’s no sign of slowing down.”

If you have a YouthVoice newsletter with free opportunities or information  – get in touch ! Info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk

RESOURCES:

💡The Politics Project (which coordinates Democracy Classroom) have a new new one-stop Resource Hub for schools, democracy engagement practitioners and young leaders. Read more.

⭐PODCAST: Esmee Fairburn / HUDL collective This 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 here

⭐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 the 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

 

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

           #YouthVoiceNews Click to access previous issues

Exit mobile version