Youth Voice in Democracy Archives

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…)

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…)

Feb152022 by James Cathcart1 Comment

YouthVoice to Govt: Mini-Survey on Youth Engagement Policy 2022

News and Blogs, Young Voices Heard, Youth Voice in Democracy

Aged up to and including 25 in England? Want to influence how Govt engages with youth people on policy issues? Please complete this 5 min survey by 6th March: "How do young people want to be involved with decision making?" "What more can government do to engage with young people?" "What should Feedback to young people look likr? "How can government engage with a diverse range of young people?" "How can government increase visibility, public engagement and awareness of youth engagement?" (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…

Jun222020 by James Cathcart5 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, 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…

Jun102020 by James Cathcart1 Comment

#YouthVoiceNow interview – with Dan Lawes (19) activist, #iwill ambassador and founding CEO of YouthPoliticsUK

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

Daniel Lawes is a 19 year-old activist from Manchester, currently studying History and International Relations at the London School of Economics. He is an #iwill ambassador, Diana Award recipient, and in 2016, he founded the non-profit organisation YouthPolitics UK with the aim of engaging young people with the democratic process. He was one of the youngest CEOs in the UK at 17. Continuing our series of interviews with youthvoice champions, 'YoungVoicesHeard' heard about his journey and hopes for the future. We also asked what advice he would give to young people starting out and to older people listening. (more…)

May272020 by James Cathcart1 Comment

#YouthVoiceNow: Interview with Harry Twohig (19) #iwill ambassador, advisor to ‘The Mix’ and member of DCMS Youth Policy Steering Group

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

Harry Twohig is a #youthvoice champion and activist, volunteering as for the #iwill campaign as an ambassador, a member of The Mix Youth Advisory Panel, and trustee of youth music charity NYMAZ. In 2019 he joined the DCMS Youth Policy Steering Group which aims to provide advice on Government policy. Originally from Middlesborough, he is now studying History in lockdown at the end of his first year at University. Continuing YoungVoicesHeard series of interviews we give a platform to Harry to talk about his journey, Covid and hopes for the future of youth participation. (more…)