Nov212023 by James CathcartNo Comments

Youth Voice and Influence in YVH Heritage Projects 2020-2023

News, Youth Social Action
Young Voices Heard were partners on two initiatives funded by Historic England on valuing, celebrating and protecting our heritage. The first was a social action pilot with the Volunteer Police Cadets 2019-2022, followed by a feasibility study building on this in partnership with Youth United Foundation (network of uniformed organisations) Youth voice, participation and influence were key elements of both the national development and local delivery of these initiatives and are part of an ongoing process of partnership development between the youth and heritage sectors. Contact James Cathcart using the form below for more information or if you would like to work with YVH on mobilising your youth voice to explore heritage, identity and partnership project funding. A more detailed summary of the projects, and more recommended reading and advice…
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Nov132023 by James CathcartNo Comments
Recognition inspires – so dont just notice, nominate!

Recognition inspires – so dont just notice, nominate!

News and Blogs, Recognition, Youth Social Action
The #Campaign4YouthRecognition calls on people and organisations to make more nominations of exceptional young citizens for national recognition. The latest addition to YVH recommended list* are The British Citizen Youth Awards (BCyA).  Managed by the charity 'The British Citizen Awards', it only awards 24 medals a year to those helping others through fund-raising, awareness-raising or social action. At this year’s Westminster celebration in October, YVH founder and BCyA Ambassador James Cathcart joined Sec of Sate for Education Gillian Keegan MP and singer/dancer/judge and Patron of BCyA Kimberley Wyatt, in presenting some of the awards. In this blog he talks about the event, his #Campaign4Youth Recognition and calls on us all to 'not just notice young peoples success, but nominate them for recognition'. (more…)
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Oct242023 by James CathcartNo Comments
Local #YouthVoice must be heard – New Gov Guidance reviewed

Local #YouthVoice must be heard – New Gov Guidance reviewed

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Voice in Democracy
Statutory Guidance on youth voice and influence in local youth services (the Education Act 1996, 507b) has just been updated and published (Sept 23) by the Gov's DCMS Youth Directorate. The original legislation is not just the statutory basis for the provision of local youth services in England, but where the law says that youth views ‘must’ be heard in shaping them. Does the latest guidance go far enough? James Cathcart reviews the implications for the #youthvoice movement and calls for a debate about the opportunities in the run up to a General Election 2024. (more…)
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Jul192023 by James CathcartNo Comments
NEWS #YouthVoice Policy Impact Study: UK Youth Parlt & Youth Policy Dev Group

NEWS #YouthVoice Policy Impact Study: UK Youth Parlt & Youth Policy Dev Group

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Policy Development Group News
The Young Engagement Impact Study  aimed to "understand participant experiences and the perceived outcomes for participants and policy making".  Are young peoples voices heard and acted upon?  'Evidence from stakeholders and the document review suggest the programmes influenced local and national government policy and decision making'. However 'participants wanted more opportunities to meet with ministers (over policy officials) and suggested a need to improve feedback on the outcomes of their policy recommendations.'  YVH comment: 'We need more impact reports like this to build our evidence base and learning for youth voice and influence. They help make the case for better quality and support for #youthvoice initiatives. This study not only confirms the benefits of meaningful engagement but highlights the need to implement all of the elements of good practice in…
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Jun172023 by James CathcartNo Comments
NEWS: King’s Birthday Honours 2023 – Congratulations ..

NEWS: King’s Birthday Honours 2023 – Congratulations ..

News, News and Blogs, Recognition
Congratulations to Jay Frood BEM (18), Joe Seddon BEM (26) and George Imafidon MBE (27) , who were recognised in the first Kings Birthday Honours List and will be added to YVH's  'Youth' Honours List  (2012 -2023) to showcase role models aged 30 and under,  and a special mention and congratulations to Matteo Bergamini MBE (31)/founder & CEO of ShoutoutUK),  for their exceptional public service, campaigning or leadership of community projects. Contact us with other names so we can add them too! .. and support the #Campaign 4YouthRecognition which aims to inspire more nominations of young people to national awards. See below for details and #HowtoNominate (more…)
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Mar132023 by James CathcartNo Comments
#YouthVoice Interview – Inaam Barkatoolah (18), campaigner and member of the Youth Policy Dev Group 2021-23

#YouthVoice Interview – Inaam Barkatoolah (18), campaigner and member of the Youth Policy Dev Group 2021-23

Individuals, News and Blogs, Youth Policy Development Group News, YouthVoice Interview, YouthVoice Interview
Inaam Barkatoolah, aged 18, from London, is an active campaigner NS advocate on 'human rights and access to justice for all'. She is a champion of youth voice and participation and since 2021, has been an active volunteer member of the Government's Youth Policy Develop Group, a joint youth engagement initiative coordinated by ShoutOutUK  which consults young people in England on policy proposals through roundtables. She is currently a Solicitor Apprentice specialising in human rights law. Inaam talks to Young Voices Heard about her #’youthvoice journey, and the experience of working with the YPDG, as it approaches the end of its term in March 2023. You can read more about the work of the YPDG here (more…)
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Jan22023 by James CathcartNo Comments
NEWS: New Years Honours 2023. More young people recognised. Campaign continues.

NEWS: New Years Honours 2023. More young people recognised. Campaign continues.

News, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard
Congratulations to Dara McAnulty (18) BEM, Elliott Lancaster MBE (25), Kieron Moir MBE (29) and Bethan Stimpson BEM (27)who have been recognised in the first Kings New Years Honours List, and will be added to our YVH Youth Honours List  2012-2022 (listed below) to showcase those aged 30 and under who have been recognised for their exceptional public service, campaigning or leadership of community projects. The #Campaign4YouthRecognition aims to inspire more nominations of young people to all national awards. See below for #HowtoNominate (more…)
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Dec302022 by James CathcartNo Comments
2023 Youth Parliament “Plus”?

2023 Youth Parliament “Plus”?

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Voice in Democracy
The Government will relaunch and refresh UK Youth Parliament in the new year. This followed a year of review and consultation by the DCMS Youth Directorate of its Youth Engagement [with Government] strategy and grants programme. It published its conclusions in a tender document which as part of an invitation for proposals to refresh and relaunch the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) brand, integrate the Youth Policy Development Group and introduce a number of new measures to  “increase engagement with young people across the UK”. The aim, in the new year, is to build the programme “into an established part of the policymaking and parliamentary process, with direct access to decision makers, and improve feedback and recognition to young people". This is an exciting opportunity to amplify youthvoice and participation to a…
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Jul212022 by James CathcartNo Comments
Youth Voice Views on the work of the Govt Youth Policy Development Group – Recruiting until 7th Aug

Youth Voice Views on the work of the Govt Youth Policy Development Group – Recruiting until 7th Aug

News and Blogs, Youth Policy Development Group News
The Youth Policy Development Group (at ShoutOutUK) is recruiting young people to advise Government Ministers and officials on a range of current Government policy consultations. Hear what current members have to say about the initiative. Aged 16-25 in England?  Join us by 7th August. The programme is sponsored and coordinated by the Government Youth Directorate (DCMS) under the management of ShoutOutUK. The group takes policy referrals from other Government departments on a range of topics from mental health to genetic modification. Training, Mentoring and Expenses covered. For more information/FAQ go to  The Youth Policy Development Group with SOUK and DCMS - Shout Out UK  or  Apply here by 7th August . To help you decide read the feedback from current members, and check out our blogs on their work including…
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Jul72022 by James CathcartNo Comments
YouthVoiceNews – Govt ‘Youth engagement grant’ extended to Mar 23, & Youth policy group recruitment re-opens to 16-25s

YouthVoiceNews – Govt ‘Youth engagement grant’ extended to Mar 23, & Youth policy group recruitment re-opens to 16-25s

Democracy, News, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Policy Development Group News, Youth Voice in Democracy
ShoutOutUK have confirmed on social media that their Youth Engagement grant contract with Government (DCMS Youth Dir) to manage the Youth Policy Development Group, has been extended until April 2023. Young Voices Heard and polling company Survation are also partners in this Government programme. Recruitment is now open to boost the YPDG membership to 40  (aged 16-25/England) to continue informing and influence Government policies at monthly roundtables with Ministers or senior officials. Apply by 7th August. (more details below) Kyrenia Shipillis (18) - interview with YVH gives a members perspective on her experience of working as a volunteer policy "changemaker" (more…)
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