Editor, Author at YOUNG VOICES HEARD / YOUTH VOICE NEWS

May72020 by Editor2 Comments

YouthVoice on #Covid-19: Who’s listening?

News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard

Covid-19: Every voice matters and needs to be heard. The Government’s daily briefings may now be taking questions from the public but anyone under 18 is simply told that “you cannot ask a question in the coronavirus press conference because - you’re not old enough”. I was a bit surprised at the bluntness of this message to children and young people, offering not explanation or alternative. This lack of imagination in providing an opportunity for children and young people to be recognised and heard by the media, decision-makers and the public at large, is alarming. We are ALL in this together and every voice counts. So 'Young Voices Heard' joined over 80 other organisations and 130 of their youth representatives, in signing an open letter* on Thursday 8th May to…

Feb182020 by EditorNo Comments

Youth Participation Quality Mark: Project 2020

News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard

Having a 'Youth Participation Quality Mark' is one way to indicate that #youthvoice is being heard AND making a difference to an organisation. Having certification, or an award, will indicate the degree to which youth-participation is: a) 'taking place' b) 'meaningful' and c) 'fit for purpose', be it consultation, co-design, or participation in scrutiny and decision-making. "Register your interest in this project or feedback to info@youngvoicesheard.org.uk with your name/role/org recommending good practice examples and sharing a #youthvoice view for what quality looks like - go to our QM Project page for latest news and draft resources". Young Voices Heard is launching a Quality Assurance project that it hopes will lead to a new set of national standards for engagement, participation, and impact. Working with a network of independent young advisors,…

Feb62020 by EditorNo Comments

Voting Counts

Changemakers and Champions Gallery, Gallery, Organisations, Youth Voice in Democracy, Youth-led Start Ups

Straplines and Mission: "Voting Counts is a simple, unbiased political resource that helps you make informed decisions when voting." Website: https://votingcounts.org.uk/ (more…)

Feb12020 by EditorNo Comments

Votes at 16: Parked, paused, what next?

Democracy, Young Voices Heard

Votes at 16: 2020, What next for this long-running campaign? ‘Votes at 16’ no longer commands the support of a majority of MPs in the new Parliament. Yes - Wales has joined Scotland in lowering the local voting age locally, but are General Election campaigners facing five years 'parked' in Parliament? Are young people in this age group now prioritising action on climate change, mental health and knife-crime over the right to vote? After all, Greta Thunberg has shown that even if you are too young to vote you are not too young to be heard by those that do. Stakeholders, supporters and funders are focusing on investment in social action campaigning and renewed youth services all year round, rather than empowerment through voting tomorrow. Invited by the Leverhulme Trust…

Dec62019 by EditorNo Comments

How do we refresh democracy for young people?

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs Archive

'They don't appear to know what they're doing in Westminster' first time voter , Croydon. The 5th of December was #DemocracyDay when 'Young Voices Heard' joined twenty other organisations calling for a range of measures to address disenchantment with democracy (1). The day was coordinated by the Electoral Reform Society who commissioned a mini-poll (2) from BMG Research on the attitudes of the electorate on how well politics is working and whether they felt they could influence on decision-makers. When asked to describe their opinion on how politics is working 82% of 18-24 year-olds agreed that it needs improving and 68% felt that they do not have very much/no influence over decision-makers in the country as a…

Nov172019 by EditorNo Comments

Election 19 #YouthVoice Manifesto – Nothing about us Without us!

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard

Its been two years since I posted my last 'General Election Call To Action’ and a ‘Youth-Voice Agenda’ to highlight youth people's concerns and campaigns, especially those who could not vote.* I followed up with an open letter to the Prime Minister and Party Leaders calling on them to 'talk to young people not about them' – both during and after campaigns – and to consider introducing a series of reforms that would prioritise youth issues and embed meaningful #youthvoice and #participation in our democracy going forward**. Here is my updated open call for this election – “An Advocate’s Youth Manifesto” – inspired by the #youthvoice movement, from individual campaigners to national consultations like the amazing Make Your Mark Ballots of recent years organised by the UK Youth Parliament, the…

Nov92019 by EditorNo Comments

Election 2019 – #Youthpower

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs Archive

"Too young to vote, but not too young to be heard by those that do." By James Cathcart, first published in 'Children Young People Now' | 09 November 2019 | At some point during the election campaign commentators and parties will focus on policies relating to children and young people, such as education and knife crime and will also target the 18-24 youth vote with promises around employment, housing and debt, and of course, Brexit. However, there is another influential group, whose agenda is usually ignored by the mainstream media and public opinion in the run up to elections, but whose influence should not be underestimated in voting households since the last election - children and young people under 18. While too young to vote they are not too young…