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
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
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
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 Archive, 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…)
Read More
Youth Engagement with Govt/DCMS: Survey results

Youth Engagement with Govt/DCMS: Survey results

2021, News and Blogs Archive, Topical, Young Voices Heard
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…)
Read More
#Youth Voice News 5/22: Govt Mental Health Consultation, Funding, New Youth Voice Register, Good Practice…

#Youth Voice News 5/22: Govt Mental Health Consultation, Funding, New Youth Voice Register, Good Practice…

News, News and Blogs Archive, Young Voices Heard
  Government #YouthVoice Consultation on Mental Health & WellBeing –  aged 12-25, and living in England? Have your say on Govg policy to the Youth Policy Development Group / "Govt" roundtable consultation which will inform and influence the Department of Health and Social Care's 10 year "Mental Health and Well-Being Plan". Take 5-10 minutes to have your say by clicking this  - Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey    (DEADLINE 28th May) Your responses to the survey will be reviewed  by the young members of the Youth Policy Development Group (YPDG) and shared with government officials and senior policy makers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) on 6th June 2022. [To get more monthly consultations direct to your inbox sign…
Read More