James Cathcart, Author at Young Voices Heard

Dec62019 by James CathcartNo Comments

How do we refresh democracy for young people?

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs

'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…

Nov282019 by James CathcartNo Comments

#YouthVoiceNow: Interview with Anna McGovern (18) #iwill Ambassador and Chair of Medway Youth Council

Changemakers and Champions Gallery, Gallery, Individuals, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Voice in Democracy, YouthVoice Interview, YouthVoice Interview

by James Cathcart, 20th November 2019 Anna is an #iwill Ambassador - one of a group of young activists successfully nominated in recognition of their outstanding volunteering work. She is now a role model and ambassador for the national ‘Step Up To Serve’ campaign - which aims to increase youth ‘social action’ and celebrate the role of young people as active citizens. Anna has campaigned on safeguarding for children/on-line safety and better mental health, with NSPCC and Childline, and has been recognised with awards included the Prime Ministers Point of Light Award for her work. As part of national #iwillweek2019 I met Anna, in her role as Chair when she was hosting the Medway Youth Council’s annual conference on climate change. It was held at Mid Kent College in Chatham…

Nov172019 by James CathcartNo Comments

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

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs, 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 James CathcartNo Comments

Election 2019 – #Youthpower

#GE19 & Campaigns, Democracy, News and Blogs

"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…

Jun62019 by James CathcartNo Comments

Youth Charter 2019 – Youth Minister 2020

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard

Youth Charter pending? Youth Minister overdue! Have the stars aligned, at last, to create the conditions for a meaningful dialogue between youth sector stakeholders and decision-makers, resulting in a higher profile for youth policy development and a lead from Government? Following the ‘Serious Youth Violence Summit’ in early April 2019, the Government announced that it would be working with the youth sector in the coming months, to produce a Youth Charter that will “set out a vision for young people for the next generation and beyond”. The Government repeated its commitment to “giving young people a strong* voice on issues they care about” (first set out in last years Civil Society Strategy, DCMS). Sports and Civil Society Minister [with responsibility for that departments youth policy but its a stretch to…

Nov82018 by James CathcartNo Comments

Youth Work Matters 2018

News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard

To mark 'Youth Work' Week, on the eve of the Youth Parliament Commons debate, James Cathcart reflects on his early experiences of being a youth worker in the 1980s, what 'youth work' is, and why it matters so much today. "I started out my career as a youth worker and am still proud to fly the Youth Work flag when and where I can. (more…)

Aug142018 by James CathcartNo Comments

UK Youth Parliament’s ‘Make Your Mark’ ballot TOP 10 campaigns 2018, reviewed

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard

The UK Youth Parliament #MAKEYOURMARK ballot is published (header photo), and the polls are open. Anyone aged 11-18 in the UK can now vote for their priority campaign until 10th October through their local school/youth council/online. In recent years young volunteers have mobilised nearly a million of their peers to vote across the U.K. making it the largest consultation of young people in the country if not Europe. The annual debate of the five of these campaigns by the Youth Parliament in the House of Commons, was one of the highlights of my year when I was at The British Youth Council, but its the results of the popular vote that is a fascinating, sometimes surprising and even ahead of the curve the Westminster bubble. It's what matters to next…