greetings the British Youth Council has announced that it has been invited by the Department for Education to spearhead a national “Youth Voice” service. Youth Voice will support young people in influencing local and national Government decision making in England, and provide continued support for the UK Youth Parliament, promoting greater positive recognition and respect for youth achievement and opinion.
The contract, worth £350,000 in 2011/12 and £500,000 in 2012/13 and will be delivered through BYC’s newly developed regional structure with London-based central support. This will enable BYC to build upon its existing offer of support services for young voices at home and overseas.
BYC, as a youth-governed charity has been calling for youth participation to be more embedded in public life as the norm, and believes that the best way to take forward this agenda is by young people leading and shaping the dialogue in partnership with decision-makers. The charity not only shares the Government’s agenda for youth led participation, but is now in a position to effect real and lasting change. Youth Voice will enable BYC to use its network of 450 youth councils, the Young Mayors Network projects, and the UK Youth Parliament network to better effect, and to invite new young voices, especially those new or feeling overlooked, to play a part in developing the positive voice of youth.
“Hopefully this marks a step change in youth participation in the public sector that sees more young people’s representatives from a range of backgrounds, taking their proper place in communities and society, and then getting the public recognition they deserve. To achieve this we at BYC will be working to add to the DfE initial investment with funding from renewed partnerships with all Local Authorities, private business and the voluntary sector, to stimulate interest and investment all round, in youth and community services,” added James Cathcart, CEO of the British Youth Council.
