“My BIGGEST pet peeve in youth involvement work is young people being invited into a ‘youth-friendly’ space but then only being welcomed if they can function as a mini adult. It makes me feel like Nellie the dog …” my quote of the week from Hannah Jones, in Recommended Reads . ⬇️

… and following feedback, I’ve tweaked the format to highlight more local news, spotlight and recognise good practice, and add more editorial comment. This week we have..

• ⭐Power-building #youthvoice to influence policy – lessons learnt & shared @Blagrave Trust
• ⭐Big Future survey targets 1million children – @Children’s Commissioner (Eng)
• ⭐Confidence plummets – 2nd UK annual youthvoice poll @JohnSmithCentre
• ⭐NEW:Local #YouthVoice: In The News – Newcastle, Wirral, Peterborough
• 🏆NEW: YouthVoiceNews Good Practice Recognition  – Westminster Foundation/YouthPanel
• 📢NEW: Spotlight on “youth organising” Youth Alliance
• 🎁NEW: Competition: submit a  Blog on A.I. – ShoutOutUK/PSA/
• 👀Votesat16 Watch – regular feature
• 👀Recommended Reads – Sport, International, Votes, Biggest peeve!
• 👀Opportunities for young people/supporters – regular feature
• 👀Resources

“YouthVoice News & Opportunities” is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer. Join over 680 practitioners and young leaders who have signed up on LinkedIn (or the YVH website) to get this free newsletter sent directly to their email, via LinkedIn here. (And to browse back issues here). Please ‘Tag’ us to your posts (#YouthVoiceNews or @YouthVoiceHeard) so we can highlight and share your youthvoice.

It’s so useful to keep abreast of things going on in the sector. Youth Voice News makes me feel connected to other advocates/researchers/practitioners. As long as I read the newsletter, I am fairly certain that I’m not missing any major developments..” from the feedback survey. Click here to have you say.

NEWS

NEW Blagrave Trust publishes “Young People in Policymaking final learning report” Ten organisations were funded, each piloting or extending initiatives that centred young people as active participants in policymaking (2022-25). @Common_Futures were appointed as the ‘learning partner’ and have shared their report, providing a range of methods and experiences, providing valuable insight for the sector. A must-read for young leaders, supporters and organisations. They conclude that “As public debate continues to grapple with the balance between populism and community power-building, and as votes at 16 becomes part of the national conversation, there is a renewed onus on developing young people’s knowledge, capacity, and leadership. Yet the infrastructure to support this is fragile” (3 of the organisations closed) They emphasise that “strategic and collaborative investment between funders is more important than ever to strengthen organisational capacity, and ensure that young people’s policy influence does not depend on isolated, time-limited projects. [like this one]. Read more

Comment: I’d particularly recommend reading the Executive Summary and the section on Influence and Policy Impact’, as it shows there are many pathways to power to explore, and the section of Theories of Participation reminds us that there are several relevant models depending on purpose (They pick out three Lundy’s model (adaptable), Hart’s Ladder (process) and Kirschner’s Framework (activism). Whilst I would have liked to see more information about what policies and changes resulted from the embedding of youthvoice (such as “You Said We Did”), this report is a significant contribution to the sector as it illustrates case studies and challenges in context – something Blagrave Trust have been pioneering for many years. Ed/JC

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The Children’s Commissioner seeks the views of a million children in England (aged up to/inc 18). Rachel de Souza, launching the ‘Big Future’ said  “For the first time, hundreds of thousands of children will be eligible to vote in the next general election at age 16, the biggest change to the franchise in half a century – yet just one in five children say politicians listen to them. That’s why I’m doing my final survey, The Big Future, to talk to a million children, to listen to them. And to find out about what it’s like to be a child today. I am asking about the changes you want to see in your communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future. More than anything, I want to know what they think a good childhood should look like, now and in the future.”  Read More Here, with guidance and survey link. 

This comes as Children’s Commissioner’s new polling shows teenagers are uncertain about voting in the next general election and worried about the future. New polling from Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, published the morning after the local elections, reveals half of 13 to 17-year-olds either do not know which party they would support in the next general election, or whether they would vote at all. A further 11% said they would not vote. Nine in ten say they are worried about the future, with getting a good job and having enough money being the top concerns.

Comment: The Big Future Survey is the first to seek to reach a million since the boom days of the BYC’s UK Youth Parliament Make Your Mark polls, which peaked in 2018 and 2019 at over 1.1 million. They were discontinued after BYC closed in 2024. Its target is 4 million teens who will be 16+ and eligible first-time voters. Yes – their views will change by the date of the General Election, but the survey will not only raise early awareness but will catch the eye of politicians on future trends to inform their ‘offer’ to a younger electorate. The survey’s process and guidance are an example of good practice in seeking views – particularly the guidance for adults helping children to understand and complete a survey Ed/JC

💡 Young People say odds are stacked against them/ Confidence plummets: 2nd Annual Youth Poll UK (John Smith Centre/University of Glasgow, April 26). Sample 2,000, aged 16-29. Young people chose the themes covered in this new report and then wrote the survey questions within them. Themes: Gen AI; Media & Information; Geopolitics & Defence; Migration & Identity; and Civic Engagement & Education.   In just one year, optimism about surpassing their parents’ living standards has fallen from 63% to 36%, while the share expecting to be worse off has more than doubled! Only 25% feel they are treated fairly by the political system, and 50% would never take up arms for their country. Read more here  Read the report. Read Intergenerational Foundation Blog 

Comment – Do we take young people’s acceptance of the status quo for granted? Despite the challenges, they remain compliant, and many are still keen to engage in society. I remember a time when patience and faith in the system were exhausted, when students protested, campaigners marched, and activists acted. More young people will be getting the vote – but will they use it? With the growth in youth participation, and the relaunch of a national youth council, we are hopeful representative youth voice will make a difference at the highest level, and more will be ‘invited’ to have a say – but to what extent will it they be able to set the agenda, represent dissatisfaction, and will decision-makers be ready, willing, and able to respond? Ed/JC

LOCAL – IN THE NEWS

Every week I see lots of examples of local practice. Too many to include. But following feedback that you’d like to see more local practice, I’ve selected a few to illustrate the different pathways to power-building, influence and power-sharing – especially when local is celebrated nationally. Ed

⚡Lighthouse shines in Parliament: Young people from the Lighthouse Project speak directly with ministers and MPs about the importance of youth voice and continued investment in young people. They were invited by the charity @Social Investment Business, which delivered the #YouthInvestmentFund in partnership with the UK Government. Read More: Byker Youth Centre Celebrates National Recognition with Parliament Visit – Newcastle Magazine – Your source for inspiring Newcastle news

⚡Tora represents Wirral at national SEND Youth Voice event in London | Wirral View Guest speakers included Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP Angela Rayner and Dame Diana Johnson. Over the two-hour event, there was a dedicated debate where young people were invited to respond to two key questions: What matters most to you about your future at work? What are the biggest barriers facing young people with learning disabilities or autism when it comes to getting a job? Source WirralView

⚡Peterborough Youth Council Celebrates young people. First launched in 2025, the Bright Futures awards are organ­ised by Peter­bor­ough Youth Coun­cil and designed to cel­eb­rate the achieve­ments of young people across Peter­bor­ough. Source Peterborough Telegraph. Read More PressReader.com | Hard work, resi­li­ence and excel­lence rewar­ded.

Youths grill politicians in ‘Question Time’ debate – MSN Members of Wolverhampton Youth Voice will discuss issues in a BBC Question Time format with a panel of two MPs, the council leader, a cabinet …

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NEW   ‘YOUTH VOICE NEWS’ RECOGNITION OF GOOD PRACTICE

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         ⚡The Westminster Foundation / Our Voice Our Community – YVN Exemplar☑️

Exemplar of good practice in mobilising and embedding Youth Voice Heard

The Westminster Foundation ‘Our Voice, Our Community’ programme ‘worked collaboratively to design and deliver a grants programme rooted in the lived experience of the young people involved, who made the final decision on allocating grants of £10,000 each to three charities: Youth Fed, Inspiring Your Future, and The Boaty Theatre Company, in Chester and Ellesmere Port.. This marks the culmination of an eight‑month pilot project developed by the Westminster Foundation, which placed young people’s voices at the centre of grant‑making, working in partnership with Leaders Unlocked and Cheshire Community Foundation. The Westminster Foundation is committed to embedding Youth Voice across its funding and programme work. Learning from the Youth Panel pilot will inform the development of a scalable participatory framework that will shape the Foundation’s future funding, strategy and governance”. Read More Here

This is youthvoice, heard and acted upon. Congrats to all involved/hope they get nominated for a national award – Children and Young People Awards in Opportunities below! James/Ed

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COMPETITION✍️

⚡‘How would you use AI to make a positive contribution to political discourse?’ Write a blog to enter by 28th May 17.00. Age 16-19 students in UK and overseas. ShoutoutUK in partnership with FT Schools and the Political Studies Association (UK) we are searching for the  Our expert judges including Matteo Bergamini MBE and the FT’s Andrew Jack are looking for creative arguments and unique concepts – not just writing style. The Prize: The winner will be invited to a reception in Parliament on 9th June, with the winning entry published on the PSA and FT Education websites. Read more/apply here

SPOTLIGHT – on ‘Youth Organising / Youth Alliance’

⚡What is Youth Organising?  Explained by Megan Doherty. Read more here Youth Alliance Organisation  “As young people, it can be hard to see yourself as someone with power. Many of us in the Alliance didn’t see ourselves as someone who could shape systems, challenge injustice or even imagine something better. Like so many other young people, we assumed decisions were made somewhere else, by those who already had access to power and by experts who already knew everything. We didn’t think we belonged in those rooms or could do anything about it”.  Comment: Not all youthvoice is dependent on others empowering young people, making space or providing support? I know of many youthvoice projects and organisations that were initiated by young people themselves, with more in common with social entrepreneurs and enterprise than youth service development. Ed/JC

Recommended Reads:

⚡Naomi Beckles – Why listening to young people is key | Sport England To mark National Children’s Day, our senior manager for children and young people @NaomieBeckles shares the benefits and outcomes of listening to young voices in the Sport sector. (Inc feedback from a recent session around young people’s experiences of good and bad coaching).

⚡From Silence to Resistance: The Lives Afghan Girls Are Forced to Lead – Australian Institute of International Affairs “Young people can help amplify Afghan girls’ voices by sharing credible stories and testimonies on social media, in school networks, and on community platforms. It is essential to centre consent and privacy in all storytelling, ensuring that the girls themselves retain agency over how their experiences are represented.”

⚡James Sloam – Why would young people vote when they feel ignored? – James Sloam discusses his research on how to make a success of Votes at 16. “Lowering the voting age to 16 across the UK is a welcome step toward addressing declining youth participation in elections. But it raises a deeper question for policymakers: is access enough to truly engage young people in democracy?” Read more

⚡Hannah Jones – “my BIGGEST pet peeve in youth involvement work” Hannah, Peer researcher and leader of London Peer Action Collective, highlights how many young people are excluded when “young people are being invited into a ‘youth-friendly’ space .. then only being welcomed if they can function as a mini adult. It makes me feel like Nellie the dog..

COMMENT: These examples not only illustrate a broad range of pathways for youth voice to be heard, but also highlight the challenges and pitfalls.  Access isn’t enough. Youth-friendly isn’t enough. Both need definition to guard against benevolent or unintended Tokenism, Coaching or Manipulation. I particularly like the assertion in the Afghan girls’ article that when young people are agents of social pressure, those supporting them must ensure the young people themselves own how their stories are told. Surely supporters and stakeholders should adopt this principle as a minimum standard? ED/JC

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VOTES AT 16 WATCH

⚡VOTES AT 16 WATCH – 👀Votesat16Watch is a rolling news page – a summary of the latest stories, events and research since July 2025. In addition, there is a timeline history of the Votes at 16 campaign activities, including milestones events in parliaments in the UK and around the world.  Timeline/Resources

⚡Last week, tens of thousands of 16 and 17-year-olds went to the polls in Scotland and Wales. This is the third Scottish Parliament election and the second Senedd election in which 16–17-year-olds can vote. Only a proportion of the eligible population registers (Scotland registration circe 70% = 74,000+, Wales 55% = 37,000 estimate). Of these, only a proportion will have ‘turned out’ on the day, perhaps 40-55% depending on a range of factors. Several studies of 16 and 17-year-olds are expected, e.g. from the Electoral Commission, Scottish Election Study data, and Welsh Govt Centre analysis. Watch this space. Comment: Going forward, we will need to track data and analyse fresh feedback from this new round of young voters (recent experiences, to add to the growing research and evidence base across the UK. Particularly to update, inform and influence planning going forward. Not just of the process, but also how we educate and inform not only first-time voters, but what the candidates have to offer.   (JC/Ed)

⚡Political education must improve if voting age is to be lowered, says expert – PressReader Dr Thom Oliver, from Bris­tol has warned lower­ing the vot­ing age to 16 will fail to boost youth engage­ment without a major over­haul of civic edu­ca­tion. As the dust settles on yes­ter­day’s local gov­ern­ment and devolved nation res­ults, the…

⚡Votes at 16 is moving forward – but schools need support | Tes Schools don’t have adequate time or resources to engage students in democratic processes, …much of what currently exists in schools around democratic participation is seen as tokenistic, with limited opportunities for students to meaningfully shape decisions. While there is widespread recognition of the need to strengthen political literacy, many teachers report that they do not feel equipped to facilitate the kinds of dialogue this requires.

[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]

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YOUTH VOICE OPPORTUNITIES

⚡Fair Education Alliance – Youth Steering Group [⭐YVN good practice example⭐]   Age 14-21 Deadline 28th June. “Passionate about making education fairer? The YSG brings together young people aged 14–21 to lead campaigns, influence education policy, and ensure young people’s voices are heard at the highest levels. In the last year alone, members have participated in a roundtable with the Prime Minister, presented to MPs in Parliament, and shaped policy with the Department for Education. 🔗 Find out more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dseeCKbf📖 Read Jayden’s impact story: https://lnkd.in/ecxBXw9D

⚡Leaders Unlocked recruiting Youth Panel for the Ind Office Police Conduct  Age 16-25 Eng & Wales. Deadline 29th May. Voluntary. “Help convene and deliver national and regional influencing events to capture and amplify the views of young people on key issues affecting them. This year, we are particularly keen to hear from those who may have experience in alternative education, the care system, or have direct involvement with the criminal justice system and the police. In our youth-led national influencing work (led by our 2030 Manifesto for Change), you have a chance to bring your concerns directly to key decision-makers from across the sector, and act as an advocate for your peers, working together to co-produce real solutions and implementation plans for systemic change. Further information, the recruitment pack (including application form) and details on how to apply can be found here:

YOUTH VOICE CENSUS

⚡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. [⭐YVN good practice example⭐]  

Comment: This excellent annual survey and report, produced by @Youth Employment UK,  is a great example of a topic-focused youth voice initiative being heard and having a national influence on policy, because the results feed into a group of charities championing all things employment/careers direct to the Department for Work & Pensions. Check it out, check them out! Ed/JC

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CONSULTATIONS

⚡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 carers. It is open until 26 May 2026,  Main consultation, Parent-friendly version , Child-friendly version

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⚡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 – Events, Newsletters & Resources

⚡Children & YP annual Awards – Nominations open. “These prestigious awards are a source of pride and recognition for all those improving lives, and the gold standard for everyone working with children, young people and families”. Young Voices Heard is a supporter of these awards and its young judges panel (who have an equal say with older judges). So our “Campaign4YouthRecognition” calls on you to nominate youthvoice champions for these awards. Although there is still no ‘youthvoice’ category, you can still recognise their impact in one of the other categories!  Read more. Deadline 15th June.

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Centre For Youth Voice – check out their LinkedIn posts!

The Centre for Youth Voice has now started to post regular features/signpost blogs/case studies on LinkedIn. Here are the ones that caught my attention – but why not follow them directly here

👀When participation becomes symbolic: Blog Read More

👀The first episode of our new Youth Work Exchange Podcast explores ‘Authoring Our Own Stories’, a five-year, youth-led research programme. Read (listen) More

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RECENT NEWSLETTERS

Intergenerational Foundation – April Newsletter here: What does affordability mean for young people? Why young people feel as though the odds are stacked against them. What does Westminster think about Gen Z?

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Political and Media Literacy (ShoutOutUK) APPG APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER – Google Drive – includes information on Votes at 16, research, and young voice on social media ban.

 

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

RESOURCES:

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐RECOMMENDED –  Bumper Resource – 188 x Slides (yes ! 188? – includes lots of research/detailed plans, progress, and opportunities to get involved –  from the Votesat 16 Strategy Day. In March Democracy Classroom convened an in person Votesat16 Strategy day, where over 100 attendees heard a range of presentations from: The Economist Foundation (research), Partnership for Young London/The Jack Petchey Foundation (research), The Electoral Commission (research and prepration plan), The Politics Project (Wales), The Northern Ireland Youth Forum, My Life My Say (voter registration), ShoutOutUK (Wales), Education Scotland,  UKYouthParliament, Minister Samantha Dixon MP, and her department team (on the passage of the legislation), and the Democracy Classrooms – Roadmap to Votes at 16.  A Must-Read, Resource  Here

⭐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 Typology (types) of youth voice models.

⭐YouthVoice Co-assessment framework launched – 14th April: The Centre for Youth Voice has launched a new co-assessment framework (free) for practitioners and young people to use together to reflect on their youth voice practice. You will be able to complete it online/and share anonymously with the Centre to share trends.  “It’s a map for continuous improvement, not as pass/fail assessment”. The framework covers the full range of approaches to youth voice — from youth consultation and co-production, to youth-led governance, activism, and social action.

➡ Tool and PDF download: https://www.regionalyouthunits.com/self-assessment-tool
➡ Launch recording: https://youtu.be/s7tOjUyyH3o

⭐Youth Focus North West (YFNW) – New E‑Learning Module: Participation and Young People’s Voice using the Lundy Model:   a new Lundy Model e‑learning course, developed in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Lancashire & South Cumbria ICB, the University of Central Lancashire, and the Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership. The e‑learning provides a strong foundation ahead of YFNW’s in‑person Lundy Model and Youth Participation Training, which offers deeper learning, practical tools, and opportunities for peer support. Read more in the Centre4YouthVoice Newsletter.

Young Voices Heard- Services  – We not only host #YouthVoiceNews but also offer services to help you mobilise your #youthvoice, including: quality assurance/assessment, training/mentoring for staff and young leaders; project management, and fundraising assistance.  Last month we supported or advised: Youth Council UK, Youth United Foundation, Shout Out UK, Be The Change Media Network and Votesat16.co.uk . DM James@youngvoicesheard.org.uk for more information.

 

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

           #YouthVoiceNews Click to access previous issues