News and Blogs Archive Archives - Page 14 of 15 - YOUNG VOICES HEARD / YOUTH VOICE NEWS

Jun222020 by Editor7 Comments

#YouthVoiceNow: Interview with Katrina Lambert BEM (19) #iwill ambassador, trustee at ‘Volunteering Matters’, and member of ‘Youth for Change’

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

Katrina Lambert BEM, 19 years old (at the time of writing) and originally from Edinburgh, is an activist campaigning on gender equality, human rights and youth voice. [Since the time of interview Katrina has been recognised in the Queen Platinum Birthday Honours with a BEM for her work including Co Chair of the Back Youth Alliance] She is an #iwill ambassador, a trustee at Volunteering Matters, member of youth-led network Youth For Change and has been recognised by the Prime Minister for her work with a Points of Light award. Katrina has been active in promoting youth voice in Scotland (volunteering with organisations such as Young Scot and ProjectScotland) and is now based in London where she is studying Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics. Continuing…

May142020 by EditorNo Comments

“Youth at the Table” – The Young Trustees Movement

Governance, News and Blogs Archive, Youth Voice in the Boardroom

"It's time to end social distancing! No - I'm not referring to the Covid19 two metre spacing but the social distancing that is growing between generations. Young voices are less likely to heard on the issues that matter to them in the places that matter. They are rarely involved or share in decisions that affect their future. An inclusive vision and mission for our country and the organisations that shape it, is more likely to be realised when every voice, particularly that of young leaders, is valued and heard. At a time when young people are facing disproportionate covid19 consequences and challenges - they deserve to be at the table. Particularly in the boardroom, and any other forums, councils, or parliaments, that are making decision that will affect them. If…

May72020 by Editor2 Comments

Open Letter to PM, ‘Its time to talk to young people about Covid’

News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard

Youth representatives and leading organisations call on the UK Government to hold youth press conference on Covid19 and allow under-18s to ask questions in the daily briefing, in an Open Letter to the PM*. Young Voices Heard also calls on the media to give youthvoice more of a platform because when we are all in this together, every voice matters. We, at Young Voices Heard, have joined over 130 young representatives and senior leaders from over 80 organisations, across the youth, education, health, funding and civil society sectors to call on the UK Government to hold a dedicated press conference for young people to answer their questions about the Covid-19 pandemic and to allow under-18s to submit questions to the daily press conference, in an open letter published today,…

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,…

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…