“The future isn’t built by people who think exactly the same. It’s built by people who find enough common ground to move forward together,” quote of the week from Millicent Wenlock on the #Powerof Youth Day theme – ‘Common Ground’ ⬇️
YOUTHVOICENEWS and DIGEST..
- ⭐NEWS – DCMS Minister signs charter that promises youthvoice will continue to be heard
- Reaction & Editorial
- ⭐NEWS – Democratic Engagement fund launched – youthvoice prepared is youth voice empowered
- ⭐NEWS – 61 new ‘youthvoice to action’ Ambassadors – #iwillMovement refresh
- ⭐NEWS – Milburn Review hears youthvoice – “youth voice census + lobbying/campaign = YV heard”
- ⭐NEWS – Your Vote Week reaches 700,00o yp – Electoral Commission
- 👀Recommended Read – Millicent Wenlock on Common Ground
- ⭐|LOCAL Roundup – Stornoway, Bedford, London
- ⭐ NEWSLETTERS Roundup: DCMS Youth team,
- ⭐ROUNDUP – Votes at 16 – update from Parliament
- 🎁 RESOURCES/CASE STUDY – The Young Voices Heard approach/ Lucy Read
- 🎁RESOURCE/GOOD PRACTICE – Youth Voice in Organisations 10 Steps
- 💡OPPORTUNITIES – all ages, from yp advisory groups to training 4 workers
- 📢HAVE YOUR SAY – consultations..
- 🎁RESOURCES – Editors pick
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NEWS
Government Department (DCMS) signs the #iwillMovement “Power of Youth Charter” to underline its continuing commitment to facilitate youth voice and influence through its 10 year Youth Strategy …
Youth and Civil Society Minister, Stephanie Peacock MP, has signed ‘The Power of Youth Charter’, stating that this will mean “young people will continue their direct role in shaping the £500 million investment in National Youth Strategy ‘Youth Matters’, from sitting on recruitment panels to influencing how youth programmes are designed and evaluated”. The Charter “will give young people the opportunity to shape how Government programmes are designed and measured from the start.” and “will commit to young people having opportunities to hold the government to account on its National Youth Strategy through an Annual Hearing”.
Editorial Comment: Signing up to a ‘charter’ is another public signal that the Government is serious about its promises to listen to young people and give some of them agency and participation. The DCMS Youth Team is in ongoing dialogue with “young people” (probably some of the existing expert panel and through Seen and Heard meetings with local youth groups) to inform the shape of next steps. As well as the examples above, the Strategy has also referred to a commitment to amplify local youth voice with ‘new youth councils’. But will the real test will be the annual youth “hold to account event”, on impact and outcomes. Will it be independently managed by someone with no skin in the game? Which young people will be selected and independently supported? (The DCMS youth expert group were recruited by invitation). What ‘powers’ will it have, and how will the Government be obliged to respond? In parliament, policies are frequently scrutinised by a Select Committee of MPs from a range of parties, and independently supported by Parliament. The youth equivalent, which focused on a single policy rather than departments work) was the original Youth Select Committee model delivered by the British Youth Council (2011-2025), which was made up a cross section of representatives from various representative youth voice groups (local youth councils, devolved national parliaments/assemblies, young mayors, and others) who were subsequently trained and supported by both BYC and Parliament, sitting in Wesminster and a report produced by a committee clerk – all independent of Government officials – and actually called them and Ministers as witnesses. (The UK Youth Parlt, managed by NYA on behalf of DCMS, currently operate a youth select committee made up of young youth parliament MPs, holding an inquiry into a single policy topic). When the last Youth Strategy (Positive for Youth) was launched over 20 years ago, performance indicators were set by the Government, which it then reported on just once, after the first year. There was then a Govt reshuffle, and priorities changed. We could be in for a change of PM, Government team and Ministers, so everyone will need to be vigilant that the Youth Strategy’s promises, including an accountability framework, are followed through. Of course, youthvoice representatives and their champions will make their views heard, ideally through ongoing structured dialogue with decision-makers, and getting feedback through annual reporting by national and local government. But regardless of structures, youthvoice is being empowered and with the advent of votes at 16, expect youthvoice to be amplified further by the media and increasingly by themselves. JC/Ed
“Democratic Engagement Fund” launched by Government (MHCLG) – offers a new opportunity for Civil Society Organisations to secure funding to deliver politically neutral, place‑based projects that help people understand, engage with, and participate in democratic life. “With grants of around £25,000 (and up to £50,000 in exceptional cases), this fund is designed to support organisations already rooted in their communities to reach people who are less likely to engage in democratic processes – including young people, ethnic minority communities, disabled people, people experiencing homelessness, frequent movers, and people from lower socio‑economic backgrounds.” If your organisation has strong community reach, innovative ideas, and a commitment to inclusion, this is a chance to make a real and lasting impact on democratic participation in England. For further information, visit the Democratic Engagement Fund: Prospectus – GOV.UK, you can find the prospectus, sign up for a workshop to hear more, and access the application.
⚡New wave of #iWill Ambassadors 2026, welcomed. 61 young people from across the UK have been selected from big cities, smaller towns and communities across the 4 nations. “Over the next year, our Ambassadors will be speaking up, taking action, and inspiring others to get involved. They will be sharing their own celebrations – keep your eyes on our feed over the next few days to meet this amazing group of changemakers” #iWillMovement👀
Comment – the #iwillmovement has recognised dozens of influential independent youth activists as #iwill ambassadors, whose insight and motivation is rooted in lived experience. The original iwill charity (StepUpToService) and successor hosts, Volunteering Matters and UKYouth, have increasingly embedded youthvoice and empowerment as a core value – and their annual events,, such as the Power of Youth Day, raise the profile of individual youth social action (in contrast to ‘belonging’ to another host organisation. However, the “#iwill” starting point is frequently followed through by #wewill as they mobilise their peers, or get to work with other #iwill ambassadors. Let’s all use the tag #wewill more often – after all, the theme of Power of Youth Day is ‘Common Ground’ = #We Will stand on Common Ground. Welcome to this new wave, refreshing the common ground we share. JC/Ed [Young Voices Heard signed the original Power of Youth Charter in 2016 and its updated version in 2020]
⚡Youth Voice Heard by Milburn Review: Young People and Work Diagnostic Report Released. Credit to Youth Employment UK annual youth voice census. The first report from the government’s Milburn Review has been published, examining the drivers behind rising youth NEET rates and the barriers facing young people today. Read YEUK summary and commentary on the key findings.
Comment: Youth Voice is more effectively heard when mobilised by policy lobbying experts lkike YEUK – familiar with a specialist area topic, experienced in listening to youth voice, and with established channels to power that carry their messages to inform and influence policy development. Space + Campaign expertise = youthvoice heard. Credit and congratulations to Youth Employment UK for hosting the annual “youth voice census” and their subsequent lobbying on youth employment/welfare issues. JC/Ed
⚡”Your Vote Week” success / Electoral Commission: Together with over 60 delivery partners, we estimate that Welcome to Your Vote Week engaged over 700,000 young people and supported over 30,000 educators and stakeholders. “We’d like to say a huge thank you to you for being involved with Welcome to Your Vote Week and for championing democratic education for your young people”.83% of young people agreed they are more likely to register to vote, and 86% of educators said their young people’s confidence to engage in democracy had increased. Read more about the impact and reach of Welcome to Your Vote Week on our website.
👀RECOMMENDED READ
Millicent Wenlock, iwill Ambassador, reflects on Common Ground, the them of this year’s Power of Youth Day… “In a world that often feels increasingly divided, finding common ground has never mattered more … The future isn’t built by people who think exactly the same. It’s built by people who find enough common ground to move forward together.” Read More
⚡LOCAL ROUNDUP – a sample of the many ..
⚡Stornoway An appeal from the youth: Listen to us The Eilean Siar Youth Lewis and Harris Conference brought together almost 100 pupils on S2 and S£ from The Nicolson Institute and Sir E Scott for a day of discussion, workshops and direct conversations with senior staff from local services.
⚡Bedford Young person from Bedford elected to Youth Council UK Executive Board Ash Dalliday, 21, is one of nineteen young people, aged 16–25, now mandated to lead YCUK. He has been elected to Youth Council UK’s first-ever Executive Board, by its founding members – a new democratic platform for youth voice spanning the …
⚡London: Inspirational young Londoners recognised at City Hall awards Youth Voice of London Award: Inaaya Ijaz transformed tokenistic youth participation into substantial advocacy. At 13, she was elected as Deputy Member of Youth Parliament at Redbridge Council. She has represented young voices in the democratic processes, fostering political engagement and empowerment among peers.
NEWSLETTER ROUNDUP
⚡DCMS Youth Team May Newsletter – includes the Youth Teams report update on youth participation: Seen and Heard. Sign up for young people to have their say on social media; Launch of the Children’s Commissioner’s National Survey; The Big Help Out 2026; Youth Select Committee publishes report on PSHE education
⚡Digital Youth Engagement Update – May 2026, a quarterly update produced by YourPolice.uk ‘s digital youth engagement programme, at the College for Policing. This update is packed with useful information, including an update on the work of its Youth Advisory Group (YAG) and a section on “What we’re seeing and hearing from young people”. Comment: a little-known but well-resourced initiative that has invested in youth participation to engage with children and young people. Ed
⚡NEW – The Young Trustees Movement is now posting weekly notifications of young trustee vacancies. Follow their LinkedIn posts direct every week. (Here is this week’s) Explore roles and more on their website: If your organisation is looking to bring more young voices into leadership/decision-making , visiting our website or email hello@youngtrusteesmovement.org.
If you have a YouthVoice newsletter with free opportunities or information – get in touch! Info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk
⚡VOTES AT 16 WATCH
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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 milestone events in parliaments in the UK and around the world. Timeline/Resources
⚡Representation of the People Bill: progress of the bill – The House of Commons Library The House of Commons Library – UK Parliament. This briefing tracks the progress of the bill to introduce votes at 16, automatic voter registration, tighten the rules on political donations and …
⚡ACT featured in The Economist this week as Chief Executive Liz Moorse highlighted the importance of Citizenship education in preparing young people for democratic participation. As discussion grows around votes at 16, Liz spoke about the value of quality Citizenship education, offering practical, hands-on experiences, including ACT’s Parallel Elections project, where students took on manifesto, campaign and communications roles before voting alongside the 2024 General Election. Read the article here: https://ow.ly/Qr4150YYfhf
RECOMMENDED READ: CASE STUDY
“The importance of youth voice and advocacy, and connecting the sector together” by Lucy Read, (reproduced with permission) with an introduction by James Cathcart reflecting on 10 years of the Young Voices Heard ‘movement’ for change.
“Young Voices Heard shows that open youth infrastructure is both necessary and achievable. Their approach, rooted in historical learning, bottom-up knowledge sharing, international connection, and genuine power-sharing, offers a roadmap for transforming the UK youth sector. As traditional infrastructure disappears, new models like Youth Voice Heard point towards a more resilient, collaborative future driven by a culture shift from competition to co-creation and from adult-led provision to youth-driven innovation” Read Here.
⭐GOOD PRACTICE RESOURCE⭐
“Youth Voice In Organisations – 10 Steps to Good Practice” James Cathcart, 2020
The most downloaded resource (1600 and rising) from Young Voices Heard/ Resource Hub. A step by step guide, put together following research and review of 20 years of youth voice models and methods by James Cathcart . Young people were involved in its development as part of a Power of Youth Challenge in 2020 on a draft quality mark and the Youth Voice Charter 2020 (used in YVH assessments) – thanks to iwill Ambassadors.
Ten Steps to Good Practice – minimum standards checklist for organisations.☑️
[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
HAVE YOUR SAY SURVEYS
AGED 11-30? UK? The ‘Youth Voice Annual Census 2026’ by @Youth Employment UK. Deadline extended until 22 June: 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.
⚡The Big Future survey – Children’s Commissioner (England)consultation of 1 million. Age – up to 18. Deadline Friday 23 October 2026. What changes do you want to see in your communities? What are your biggest concerns and hopes for the future? What do you think a good childhood should look like, now and in the future?” Read More Here, (include guidance and survey link)
⚡United National Youth Office – Education 2030 launches global youth and student consultation to co-design the Post-2030 Education Agenda! “True educational transformation begins when youth step up as key partners in decision-making…This initiative is a powerful step toward driving meaningful youth participation in global governance. It is a direct opportunity for young people aged 11–30 to influence policy, guide world leaders, and shape how education will look for generations to come”. Read More – for young people & supporters. Open until Sept 26.
HAVE YOUR SAY – Advisory Panels and Young Leader opportunities
⚡National Childrens Bureau – Young Researchers Advisors Age 11-18 (25 SEN/Disability) England and Northern Ireland. (unpaid) “Shape research. Shape ideas. Make a difference. Become a Young Research Advisor! We want to hear what children and young people aged 11-18 years (or up to 25 years if you have a special educational need or disability) based in England or Northern Ireland think about research that concerns them. The group meets online around 6 times a year to discuss a variety of topics. 🤝 Meet new people🤝 Receive research training from NCB staff
Apply by Friday 12 June. Read More/How to apply
Leaders Unlocked – Mental Health Foundation Young Leaders Project Recruiting New Young Leaders for 2026-7 Applications are now open for the Mental Health Foundation Young Leaders Project 2026–27, an opportunity for young people aged 13-25. “Young Leaders will meet experts, share ideas, influence real change, take part in peer research, and help shape conversations around issues affecting young people today, from online lives and bullying to wellbeing and prevention”. Deadline is Tuesday 16 June. Contact Bhavan@leaders-unlocked.org.
⚡Children’s Commissioner (Eng) – AI Advisory Board for Dep for Education. Aged 16-18? deadline Sunday 21st June 2026. AI has the potential to help teachers, support personalised learning, and improve outcomes, but it must be used safely and responsibly, and it must not replace the human relationships at the heart of education. Share experiences and views on AI in education, and help shape policy. More details https://lnkd.in/exkTKb_z
⚡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
Participation People – Applications for paid Young Consultants are now open 🚀 “If you’re aged 15–25 and already using your voice to make change, challenge ideas or influence decisions, this could be your next step! Our Young Consultants work alongside professionals on real projects, helping organisations understand what meaningful participation actually looks like in practice”.🔶 £21 per hour for 6 months🔶 AQA accredited training🔶 Professional networks and opportunities🔶 Develop skills, confidence and experience that stand out. Application Pack Note: no set deadline until all the positions are filled.
If you have a #youthvoice opportunity coming up, drop us a line info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk
SUPPORTERS OPPORTUNITIES – Events, Newsletters & Resources
⚡New from The Politics Project: “Conversations with Politicians” Are you looking to help young people meet politicians in a meaningful, engaging way? We’re launching our brand new youth practitioner training: Conversations with Politicians. This session will support you in inviting politicians into your youth space to talk with young people. 📅 Wednesday 1st July, 3-5pm Online Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/eB3WbD8H Listen to video about it Here
⚡Returning from The Politics Project: Gamifying Democracy Training “Back by popular demand, we’re running Gamifying Democracy training sessions online. Ideal for youth practitioners looking for meaningful, practical, and enjoyable ways to bring politics to life with young people, we’ll be sharing games and activities that you can use in youth settings to start conversations about politics and democracy. Designed for group settings in informal spaces, youth clubs, and classrooms, these games help young people explore their power, voice and their ideas for change – about local, national and global topics, and their emotions towards politics and politicians. Wednesday 17th June, 11-1pm. Sign up here. Thursday 9th July, 3-5pm. Sign up here.
⚡Schools and youth groups invited to sign up for democratic engagement and V16 discussion packs for Parliament’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee Inquiry. The ‘Modernising Elections Inquiry’ is exploring the health of electoral democracy in the UK in the light of plans for votes at 16 in the Representation of the People Bill. How prepared do children & young people feel to vote? What could be done to increase their democratic engagement? Committee Chair Florence Eshalomi MP said, “The responses from these discussions will help shape the committee’s thinking and the recommendations we make to government on how to boost citizen engagement and democratic participation”. Sign up for an activity pack. Deadline 15th July. Read more + Pack here.
⚡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.
⚡Action for Race Equality (ARE) is recruiting for Cohort 2 of its UPLIFT Programme, a 12‑month capacity building initiative designed to strengthen the sustainability, leadership, and influence of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage‑led organisations across London. Funded by the City Bridge Foundation’s Anchor Programme, UPLIFT offers 21 hours over 12 months, of one‑to‑one consultancy, expert‑led workshops and peer learning focused on areas such as governance, finance, communications, policy, and ethical uses of AI. Deadline 15th June.
Take Young Voices Heard “Power of Youth Challenge” – and get your youthvoice (yp & orgs) shared in YVNew. Young Voices Heard has backed the annual Power of Youth Day since it was first announced, signing the charter on day 1 and giving a platform to many of its young campaigners and ambassadors, some of whom helped to shape YVH work and to produce its most downloaded resource ever..Just tag your posts of how young young voice was heard #YouthVoiceNews – and get a shoutout – and a #YouthVoiceHeardHere 🌟”.
RESOURCES:
👀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
⭐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 for 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 a 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
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Beyond Silos: Mapping Youth Infrastructure and Open Collaboration Across the UK, Lucy Read, NPC, 2025 Lucy, (of Future Views Today) recently posted further reflections on her excellent report (published last year), reminding us to have another look and review our approach to collaboration. “If we’re serious about building youth infrastructure that works, young people can’t be the last voice in the room, and relationships can’t be the first thing we cut”. Read more & Report here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐RECOMMENDED: Blagrave Trust “Young People in Policymaking – final learning report” Read more
💡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
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