UK Youth Parlt to continue – Minister announces formal review on future

UK Youth Parlt to continue – Minister announces formal review on future

News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard
[NOTE: This story is dated May 2024 and refers to the continuation of UKYPs 2 year DCMS delivery contract from until March 2025 following the closure of the British Youth Council.  As of January 2025 there is no information about its future after this date. YVN have written to DCMS to enquire if it will be retendered or extended. - Editor] Minister Stuart Andrew MP (DCMS) issued a Commons statement (21/05/24 see below ) and appeared on BBC Newsround to confirm that the Government has appointed the National Youth Agency to continue the UK Youth Parliament programme until March 2025.  This followed a pause to national coordination following the closure of the previous host BYC (see other news post) and a period of dialogue with stakeholders, including young leaders and…
Read More
UK Youth Parliament – young voices heard on next steps

UK Youth Parliament – young voices heard on next steps

Democracy, News, News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard, Youth Voice in Democracy
When the British Youth Council announced its closure on 21rst March 2024 it was midway in a two-year contract from the Govt DCMS Youth Directorate to deliver a programme including the Youth Parliament. DCMS and supporters have been gathering information and exploring options for its continued delivery. It's no surprise that young people have been self-mobilising to ensure their voices are heard too. Here's what they have been saying and a response from the Minister promising to meet them. YVH will post updates when the new contract host is announced. UKYP Steering Group member Jamie Burrell sends a message to supporters and Young Voices Heard. (more…)
Read More
British Youth Council has closed… what next?

British Youth Council has closed… what next?

2024, News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard
The British Youth Council has closed after 75 years. (BYC Announcement). YVH founder and former CEO of BYC (2008-2016), James Cathcart, reflects on the news and explores next steps. [Note this blog was written in March 24 and James has written updated in weekly editions of Youth Voice News and in two special blogs on the new national youth council: BYC to YCUK Part 1 The Journey So Far and BYC to YCUK Part 2 What Will the Future Hold. You can also find resources on the former BYC Manifesto, Vision and Values, Annual Review, Rule book in the Young Voices Heard/Resources /Library for reference]. "This is a significant loss to the both the youth sector and civil society as a whole. As a former CEO of BYC and a former…
Read More
Youth Voice and Influence in YVH Heritage Projects 2020-2023 & New Fundraising Opportunities 2024

Youth Voice and Influence in YVH Heritage Projects 2020-2023 & New Fundraising Opportunities 2024

2023, Archive, News, Youth Social Action
Young Voices Heard were partners on three 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). The third is called the Heritage Youth Partnership, and is ongoing until 2025, is rolling out the social action initiative to members of the Youth United Foundation - Scouts; Girl Guides; Fire, Air, Sea and Army Cadets, Boys and Girls Brigade, St John Ambulance cadets, and the Jewish Lads and Girls Clubs - the national uniformed groups of the UK. What We Do | Heritage Youth Partnership | Youth United Foundation YVH is now offering a fundraising and partnership service…
Read More
Recognition inspires – so dont just notice, nominate!

Recognition inspires – so dont just notice, nominate!

News and Blogs Archive, 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…)
Read More
Local #YouthVoice must be heard – New Gov Guidance reviewed

Local #YouthVoice must be heard – New Gov Guidance reviewed

Democracy, News and Blogs Archive, 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…)
Read More
“YouthVoice Policy Impact Study”: UK Youth Parlt & Youth Policy Dev Group

“YouthVoice Policy Impact Study”: UK Youth Parlt & Youth Policy Dev Group

2023, Archive, News and Blogs Archive, Topical, Young Voices Heard
This is the most recent DCMS/Govt commissioned evaluation report into the work of the UK Youth Parliament (then run by the British Youth Council, and the Youth Policy Group  (then run by ShoutOutUK) as separate Youth Engagement Programmes. Topical in 24/25 for its relevance to the current debate on the future of UKYP and a national Youth Council for the UK. The study was  led by ECORYS UK in partnership with Participation People and used the 'Lundy' participation framework as its reference point. (more…)
Read More
#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 Archive, 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…)
Read More
2023 Youth Parliament “Plus”?

2023 Youth Parliament “Plus”?

2022, News and Blogs Archive, Topical, Young Voices Heard
The Government will relaunch and refresh UK Youth Parliament in the new year (2023). Editors Topical Pick for 2024 - This article was first published in Dec 2022 when the a year renewal tender for the Youth Parliament was first published by DCMS following a reviews of its Youth Engagement policy. The contract was won by the British Youth Council but with the charity's closure 1 year the contract was slimmed down and retendered to the National Youth Agency to run from April24-March25. The blog explores what might have been with proposed enhancements to the model  - the "Plus". Topical in 24/25 as stakeholders, including DCMS reflect on what to do with UKYP next year. (more…)
Read More
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 Archive, 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…
Read More