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#YouthVoiceNews, 25th March

Editor

“Will young people ever have full agency or autonomy if it ultimately depends on the resources of adults…?” Molly Taylor  in Recommended Watch”⬇️.. 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

The ‘Youth Voice Annual Census 2026’ by @Youth Employment UK is open: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐AGED 11-30? UK? Have your say on how you feel about life, work and education, which YEUK will use to lobby decision-makers/Government. Every year, thousands of people complete the survey, sharing their opinions to shape the future. The survey can take between 10 and 45 minutes to complete, depending on the answers you give. You can start and stop as many times as you like, saving your progress as you go! More info/video/workers resources/past surveys Here or Start the Survey here. Deadline 8th June.

DCMS Govt Youth Team Newsletter March 2026 (bumper issue)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Read the full newsletter here.. 

Its packed with news, info, webinars, consultation info and research, including: Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy: ‘Delivering the National Youth Strategy Together’ webinar, (26th Mar) Share your views on major measures to protect children on social media Deadline 26th May, The PM and Taoiseach met members of the UK-Ireland Youth Forum, UK Young Ambassadors Update (Youth Council UK @ NYA), Government’s plan for Votes at 16, Youth Matters: State of the Nation – Regional data for young people.

Profile and Platform – Feature

Alex Nurton MYP – Votes at 16 / Petition: The third in our occasional series offering a platform to a young leader/changemaker. This week Alex Nurton (17), member of the Youth Parliament and Chair of UKYP’s Votes at 16 campaign committee, makes the case for supporting teachers to be properly resourced in preparing young citizens to vote at the age of 16 and calls on supporters to back and sign UKYP’s e-petition. Read Profile & Platform Feature here.

👀Votesat16 Watch news and views has moved to its own rolling page of updates.

⚡Hattie Andrews / Democracy Classroom V16 network “For these changes to support Votes at 16, they need to be in place by 2028, not left as a longer-term ambition and we may also need short-term, targeted support for the first cohorts of young voters while longer-term policy changes are rolled out” Read more.

⚡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. Read more.

👀Votesat16Watch rolling news page includes these stories and more back to July 2025 . PLUS –  V16W campaign Timeline/Resources👀

Recommended Watch

Editor’s pick from #youthvoice influencers/commentators on LinkedIn/Links to Podcasts…

Be The Change Media Network – Young Voices Heard  – Spotlight: Voices In Action/ co-produced by ‘Be The Change‘ with ‘The National Lottery Community Fund’   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The first in the Voices In Action series was first broadcast in Oct 2025. And it’s a must-watch and listen for all youthvoice stakeholders! In this episode, host Lily Mott is joined by Molly Taylor and Henry Hughes, Co-Chairs of the #iwill Movement. It not only explores what youth social action really means and why it’s such a powerful force for change – it includes powerful insights into what youth-led leading is all about and contains one of my favourite quotes of 2025 from Molly – “Will yp ever have full agency or autonomy if it ultimately depends on the resources of adults…?”. They unpack what it looks like when young people lead projects, organisations, movements, and communities, the role of adults in empowering youth leadership, and how small acts of social action can have a big impact. Check out the rest of the VoicesInAction series here

This weeks ‘Recommended Research Read’

Electoral Commission Research on youth views on politics, democracy and education  🗳️ https://lnkd.in/eCCG9g3t Young people trust political information at school, but few say they learn about it there. At the same time, our findings show strong interest from young people in learning more about democracy and taking part when they feel informed, with 78% saying they want to be taught more about the subject in school. The research, carried out with people aged 11 to 25, also shows concern among young people about the information currently available to them. Nearly half (48%) say they see fake political information at least once a week, and two-thirds (67%) are concerned about its impact.
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. Ed]

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.

⚡Social Media Ban /Safety: The Government has launched a national consultation on “how to better protect children online and support families in a period of rapid technological change. We want to hear from a wide range of voices across the UK, especially those working with and supporting children and families. The consultation seeks views on issues like minimum age for social media, addictive features such as autoplay and infinite scroll, AI chatbots, mobile phones in schools, and support for parents and carer”. It is open until 26 May 2026,  Main consultation , Parent-friendly version ,Child-friendly version

⚡National Lottery Community Fund / YouthVoice strategy are doing a short survey of organisations and professionals about how NLCF 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”. 5 min short survey here: 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 youth led model  “Ways to Be” and “5 Things to Provide” – Go twww.YoungVoicesHeard.org.uk/Resources for slides.Ed/JC]

ADVISORS

⚡Save the Children UK are recruiting for new members of our Youth Advisory Board!
It’s a great opportunity for young people aged 12-16 across the UK who are passionate about the world around them, injustice and child poverty in the UK. There are no skills or experience required – we welcome young people who are just starting their journey. If you’re a youth worker who knows young people who’d be super keen, please reach out! Deadline 19th April. Link to apply here: https://lnkd.in/ezFVsZhM

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!

Check out VoicesInAction Video above in ‘RecommendedWatch’

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 

⚡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

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 / March 2026 (see News Story above !)

👀My Life My Say – Newsletter / March 2026  – featuring an interview between Eden Byrne and young (Squad) Ambassador Stefano Di Rico (learn about the Squad programme that leads youthvoice at My Life My Say.

👀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:

✍️ ‘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 children’s/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 Politics Project (which coordinates Democracy Classroom) have a new one-stop Resource Hub for schools, democracy engagement practitioners and young leaders. Read more.

⭐The Centre for Youth Voice is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by the Network of Regional Youth Work Units. They offer free training so sign up to their newsletter for the latest info. Also, visit their website to access Publications/Resources. Recommend the Typlogogy (types) of youth voice models.

⭐Democracy Classroom election resources: The @ElectoralCommUK, @SeneddWalesand @childcomwaleshave 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
⭐Young Voices Heard – which of course hosts #YouthVoiceNews – but also has a Resource/Archive of recommended publications and videos. We also offer services including: mentoring for staff and young leaders, project management, fundraising and quality assurance/assessment to help you mobilise your youth voice. All the income is used to subsidise pro bono work direct to youth-led organisations, initiatives and individuals. Last month we supported or advised: Youth Council UK, Youth United Foundation, Shout Out UK, Be The Change Media Network and Votesat16.co.uk . Contact me direct on James@youngvoicesheard.org.uk

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

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.

National Lottery Community Fund

 

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

           #YouthVoiceNews Click to access previous issues

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