“I have been in spaces where young people were genuinely listened to, trusted with information, supported to understand the context, and taken seriously as part of the decision-making process. I have also seen spaces where young people were invited in, asked for their view, thanked for their contribution, and then the real decisions happened somewhere else. The difference is not usually the meeting structure. The difference is power.” William Sarenden – Quote of the week from Recommended Read – “One Person Cannot Represent a Generation – YouthVoice, Power-Sharing and Meaningful Participation”⬇️
⬇️ Also this week..
YOUTHVOICENEWS and DIGEST..
- ⭐NEWS: ‘Local Voices – National Change’, National Children’s Bureau 3.5 million lottery grant to empower #youthvoice on poverty
- ⭐NEWS – Youth Council UK Chair speaks out on social media restrictions challenge to youthvoice
- ⭐NEWS – Democratic Framework/UK funded pilot opportunities – Electoral Commission/The Politics Project
- ⭐NEWS IN BRIEF – McKechnie Award recognises campaigners | Votesat16 3rd Reading debate date | Watch this Space – Nat Lottery |
- 👀GOOD PRACTICE – Article/Review: ‘One Young Person Cannot Represent a Generation’ – William Sarenden⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 👀GOOD PRACTICE SPOTLIGHT – Esmee Fairburn/Co-design (video), Scottish Youth Parlt, The Right Way – Participation (Podcast)
- 🔖BOOK REVIEW – Turning Youth Voice into Sustainable Public Policy, James Sloam
- 💡OPPORTUNITIES – for all ages, includes advisory groups
- 📢HAVE YOUR SAY – consultations/surveys
- 🎁RESOURCE/GOOD PRACTICE – Youth Voice Standards in Organisations, 10 Steps
- 🎁RESOURCES – Editor’s pick
“YouthVoice News & Opportunities Digest” is produced by Young Voices Heard CIC as a non-profit venture, and edited by a volunteer. Join over 780 stakeholders, practitioners and young leaders who have signed up to get this free newsletter (LinkedIn or Website) sent directly to your email, via LinkedIn here. (Browse back issues here). Please ‘Tag’ us to your posts (#YouthVoiceNews or @YouthVoiceHeard) so we can highlight and share your youthvoice.
NEWS 25th June – 7th July DIGEST
National Children’s Bureau receives 3.5 million lottery grant to empower #youthvoice on poverty policy. The “Local Voices – National Change” programme will support children and young people with lived experience of poverty to influence decisions that affect their lives, locally and nationally in England and Northern Ireland, over five years. “Children growing up in poverty rarely get to have a say and influence the decisions that affect their lives. [This initiative is] building on our work amplifying lived experience and empowering children and young people to impact and influence decisions that affect their lives.” Anna Feuchtwang, CEO, NCB. Read LinkedIn and NCB website here
Youth Council UK Chair raises concerns on social media restrictions – “Ultimately, young people should not simply have decisions made about them; they should have a meaningful role in shaping them” In a a statement responding to the recent Government proposals Ashrita Kalia (school student recently elected Chair of YCUK) said. “I believe it is essential that young people themselves are part of this conversation.” She goes on to highlight the challenge to young people being able to connect, find community and informal learning opportunities if social media is restricted. “These [Govt] proposals come after years of declining investment in youth services…many young people have already lost vital spaces for connection, community and informal education. If one of the main avenues through which young people access these opportunities is now being restricted, we must ensure there are equal and fair pathways available to every young person.” Her particular concern is the threat to youth voice dialogue and participation itself “in civic discourse” and their ability to “have their say on the issues that matter to them.” .. “We are committed to advocating for greater investment in youth services and to working with partners to ensure that these changes have a positive impact on young people and strengthen opportunities for safe, meaningful participation both online and offline”. Full Statement
Shape the future of democratic education – pilot opportunities @The Electoral Commission and @The Politics Project are inviting schools, colleges and youth groups to take part in piloting a new framework for high-quality democratic education. The pilot will run from September 2026 to January 2027 and is open to England and Northern Ireland. As the UK Government moves towards lowering the voting age, this pilot offers to support you to equip young people with the understanding and skills they need to participate confidently and give you a chance to influence how the framework develops nationally. Participating in the pilot will give you access to “high-quality and impartial education resources about democracy and voting, along with training opportunities for teachers and youth practitioners”. ✅Get access to ready-to-use, impartial resources on democracy, voting and elections✅ Build staff confidence through CPD and training✅ Help shape national guidance ahead of Spring 2027 rollout✅ Pilot participants will have the chance to win £500 for resources Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eun45sg2 Register your interest by 24 July 2026, before the end of term, and be ready to go from September: https://lnkd.in/eHWtGntg. Any questions? Contact educationengagement@electoralcommission.org.uk (Source: Electoral Commission/Politics Project)
⚡Youth Voice Local – Campaign Recognition: Congratulations to Pie Factory Music/Ramsgate Youth Centre young Campaigners who, over the course of 16 months, launched a crowdfunder that started generating donations from community members; lobbied their district, county and national politicians to raise awareness of their campaign; and engaged local and national press to highlight their story. By the end of the campaign, they had received over £25,000 in donations and successfully saved the centre from closure. They have been recognised by winning the Sheila McKechnie Foundation Young Campaigner award 2026. Read more Pie Factory, and Save Our Youth Centre < Sheila McKechnie Foundation
⚡Representation of the People Bill (inc Votesat16) Report and House of Commons Third Reading – 13th July The remaining stages of the bill in the House of Commons (report and third reading) are scheduled for Tuesday 14 July 2026. Once completed the bill will be sent to the House of Lords for consideration. The committee stage took place over nine sittings from 18 March to 16 April 2026. The first two sittings were evidence sessions, where the committee heard from external witnesses. The remaining seven sittings were held from 24 March to 16 April 2026. The 2024–26 session of Parliament ended on 29 April 2026 without the bill progressing further.
👀Watch this space – Joe Rich, Strategic Lead on Youth Voice at the National Lottery Community Fund on a recent network event shaping the future of ‘youth voice’ to ‘youth power …. “above all what really matters is the wraparound support through creating opportunities to connect with others, learn together and take care of themselves” Read more..
GOOD PRACTICE SPOT – RECOMMENDED READ OF THE MONTH – REVIEW
One Young Person Cannot Represent a Generation – YouthVoice, Power-Sharing and Meaningful Participation William Sarenden⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“There is a difference between listening to young people and being changed by what they say. That difference matters.”
Over the past 10 years William has been involved in a “range of youth voice, student leadership, governance and charity spaces”. He has sat on “youth boards, worked with charities, represented students, been part of campaigns and advisory groups, moved into formal board and trustee roles, and seen different organisations try to involve young people in decision-making”. In this excellent article he reflects that whilst “some have done this really well” and “some have done it with good intentions, but without the right structures around it” others “have treated youth voice as something to be displayed rather than something that should meaningfully shape decisions”. He goes on to set out seven ‘pillars’ that organisations should strive towards. Many familiar – but persuasively articulated and highlight that its not about the models and theory chosen – but where power lies and is exercised. The whole article is a must read …. yep, its that good. William is a great example of a “lived experience” independent influencer and I look forward to reading/hearing more from him going forward. JC Ed Read the Article Here
GOOD PRACTICE SPOT – RECOMMENDED READS/LISTENS/WATCH
⚡Reflections on Co-designing the Youth-Led Creativity Fund – Esmee Fairburn’s new funding initiative is open … but watch this excellent video as members of their Involving Young People Collective reflect on the process of developing the criteria. A great example of youth-led/codesigned, ‘power-shared’ development. “Young People’s leadership does not have to be traditional to be trusted” Dan Mapatac, Read/Watch video to learn more about how they got there with the help of their Youth Collective – and what the funding opportunities are here.
⚡The Right Way – @ScottishYouthParliament training take-aways for decision-makers Training for those consulting/listening to young people sums up the four Fs of FEEDBACK! Read More
⚡Podcast – Scottish Youth Parliament : “What does meaningful participation actually look like? And how can we ensure young people’s views don’t just get heard, but genuinely shape the decisions that affect their lives?” In Episode 2 of the Young Rights Champions Podcast, Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) explore Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the practical steps decision-makers can take to engage with children and young people in accessible, inclusive and meaningful ways. The episode also takes listeners behind the scenes of Cabinet Takeover 2025, where MSYPs met with the First Minister and Scottish Cabinet to discuss the issues that matter most to young people, demonstrating the impact meaningful participation can have at the highest levels of decision-making. Read/Listen here
BOOK REVIEW & Comment
⚡Turning Youth Voice into Sustainable Public Policy –The Promise of Urban Democracy James Sloam/Bristol Univ Press/2026 – Publishers Summary: “Offering a rare policy-based and youth-centred approach to young people and democratic participation, this book recasts the existing democratic deficit as a failure in public policy and calls for a focus on how to amplify young people’s voices in a more inclusive and meaningful way, to turn youth voice into sustainable public policy”. This new book by James is for sale, but you can read the chapter summaries for free in the link above and its key points in this helpful book review by Terri Barry in the Association for Citizenship Teachers journal. Read Review or read James’s own summary of the Terri key points here
Comment – I’ve not bought/read the whole book, but there is a free-to-read 23-page introduction and chapter summary in the link above. James, a prolific and experienced writer on youth engagement, brings considerable insight to this exploration of youth participation in democracy in the context of ‘votes at 16’. I like the fact that he brings rare academic thoroughness to the youthvoice and influence movement to consider practical ways forward that will “ensure that young people’s desire to participate is not hindered by an inability to do so”. It emphasises the relevance of lived experience and motivation that shape the behaviour of both young people, intermediaries and decision-makers. I look forward to more books of this calibre to add to our knowledge base, enabling all of us to mark progress over time against independent analysis. JC/ED
NEWSLETTER ROUNDUP
⚡DCMS Youth Team Newsletter June 26 includes the latest on Youth Strategy, Social Media Ban and more.
⚡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 , visit 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
Representation of the People Bill (inc Votes at 16) Report and House of Commons Third Reading – 13th July The remaining stages of the bill in the House of Commons (report and third reading) are scheduled for Tuesday 14 July 2026. Once completed the bill will be sent to the House of Lords for consideration. Committee stage took place over nine sittings from 18 March to 16 April 2026. The first two sittings were evidence sessions, where the committee heard from external witnesses. The remaining seven sittings were held from 24 March to 16 April 2026. The 2024–26 session of Parliament ended on 29 April 2026 without the bill progressing further.
⚡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 ..
[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
RECOGNITION
Global Youth Awards Nominations open, free to enter, 11-15 years – Closing date 1 September 2026. One of the categories in Empowering Everyone so ideal for youth voice and influence. Organised by UK based charity the Legacy Project and judged exclusively by a young judges panel. “The Awards celebrate outstanding young people aged 11–25 who are creating positive social and environmental impact through leadership, creativity, education, wellbeing, sustainability, community action, innovation, and advocacy. This year’s Awards will be delivered entirely online, allowing us to recognise and celebrate young changemakers from around the world throughout November with digital winner announcements, interviews, and spotlight features. We warmly invite you to nominate inspiring young people within your own networks” All the judges are aged between 11-25. Nominate a Young Changemaker
Khulisa, a London based charity which aims to reduce school exclusions/support mental health is recruiting 15 Young Influencers to join their Youth Voice initiative. “This role offers young people a chance to share their ideas, lead impactful projects, and ensure that youth perspectives are truly heard.” – Eligibility: Aged 13–25 across the UK (London and Manchester encouraged) – Compensation: £10/hour for project work + expenses covered – Requirements: No experience needed—just big ideas and passion- Application deadline: 10am, Monday 20th July. Read More
Young Judges Opportunity aged 11–25 : for the Global youth awards above. Each Youth Judge is assigned to review and judge one specific award category. Interested individuals can find information about the awards above and email Erin directly for more information and to apply by – erin@legacyprojectglobal.com
HAVE YOUR SAY SURVEYS
⚡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)
HAVE YOUR SAY – Advisory Panels and Young Leader opportunities
⚡National Lottery Community Fund embeds youthvoice to influence grants. Two new positions on Climate Change Action Fund panel are being advertised this month – both are paid two-year roles. Read More about this opportunity and the role of embedded youthvoice in action at the National Lottery – one of the UKs leading pioneers of good practice in action. (video)
⚡UK Youth is recruiting younger trustees (aged 18–22) with lived experience of youth work and/or the youth or outdoor learning sector. We welcome applicants who also bring skills or experience from education, volunteering, employment or lived experience. Deadline 17th July – Read more.
If you have a #youthvoice opportunity coming up, drop us a line info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk
SUPPORTERS OPPORTUNITIES – Events & Resources
National Youth Strategy: Roadshow feedback report on youthvoice & participation. – Not there yet, but opportunity for action.. In a report shared in the latest DCMS Youth Teams newsletter, feedback from nearly 2000 workers who attended the ‘delivering together’ roadshow events across England, highlights some of the challenges that the new Strategy needs to address in youthvoice and participation.
- Current youth voice can often be tokenistic or consultative rather than supporting genuine
decision making - Youth voice is dominated by confident or already-engaged young people, with
representation of other voices missing - Feedback loops are not strong and there is little visible change for young people to see
Participants emphasised the need for: 1/ Youth voice embedded in governance, commissioning and accountability, 2/ Paid, accessible and supported participation, including political education in view of voting rights at sixteen; 3/ Outreach‑led and creative engagement (including with NEET, home‑educated, disabled and rural young people); 4/ Detached youth work is essential for seldom heard groups; 4/ Clear standards for “meaningful participation” e.g. rights‑based approaches, diverse
representation 5/ Stronger links between local youth voice and national policy spaces with clarity on the roles of each.
👀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 – 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 : The Centre for Youth Voice has launched a 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
⭐”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, and access the application.
⭐RECOMMENDED: Blagrave Trust “Young People in Policymaking – final learning report” Read more
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.
“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. Read here: Ten Steps to Good Practice – minimum standards checklist for organisations.☑️
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, and 35 years in the youth voice to action/empowerment business.
“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.
For other YVH recommended resources, go to the www.YoungVoiceHeard.org.uk main website / RESOURCES.
“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.” Readers’ feedback survey, March 26