Democracy Archives - Young Voices Heard

Oct242023 by James CathcartNo Comments

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…)

Jul192023 by James CathcartNo Comments

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…

Dec302022 by James CathcartNo Comments

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…

Jul72022 by James CathcartNo Comments

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…)

May242022 by James Cathcart1 Comment

Youth Engagement with Govt/DCMS: Survey results

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Policy Development Group News, Youth Voice in Democracy

Youth Engagement with Government - Survey Results: Earlier this year the Government's Youth Engagement Team, at the Civil Society and Youth Directorate (at DCMS) consulted stakeholders* on the future of its Youth Engagement Grants programme which funds both the Youth Policy Development Group (pic) managed by ShoutOutUK and its partners, and the UK Youth Parliament (managed by the British Youth Council and its partners). The review included surveys of young people in England, circulated in February by Young Voices Heard and ShoutOutUK to their networks for the Youth Policy Development Group. Findings and commentary below. (more…)

Jan72022 by James Cathcart1 Comment

Govt Youth Policy Group is listening..

Democracy, News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Policy Development Group News, Youth Voice in Democracy

Young Voices Heard is supporting the work of the new Youth Policy Development Group which is currently 'listening' to the views of other young people - see links below - with a view to informing and influencing government policy from the inside. The group (aged 16-25) is calling on young people (in England) to share their views on policy issues. The current survey includes questions on covid recovery education, child poverty and housing. This is part of an ongoing dialogue with Government being coordinated by ShoutOutUK and the DCMS Civil Society and Youth Directorates Youth Engagement programme. The group will develop a policy presentation and proposals for discussion at their next Ministerial Roundtable scheduled for the end of January. The first meeting took place in December on Covid Vacs and…

Nov242020 by James Cathcart1 Comment

Make Your Mark 2020, ballot open

Democracy, News, News and Blogs

"Have Your Say" Nov 2020, 11-18 year-olds can vote to prioritise campaigns online. This has been a challenging year for the Youth Parliament but the vote is open ! [topics listed below] Covid restrictions have delayed the usual timetable for the UK Youth Parliaments 'Make Your Mark' annual campaign vote by children and young people aged 11-18. The annual ballot is the largest youth consultation in the UK, usually takes place over the summer to choose five topics to be debated and voted on by young MYPs in a special sitting of the Youth Parliament in the House of Commons in November. This year the ballot, which topped 1m votes in 2018, is open during month of November with registered schools and youth groups supporting participation. You can only vote…

Feb12020 by James CathcartNo 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 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…