UK Youth proud to play leading role in asking young people: What’s your order?

UK Youth is proud to be a key partner in the Government’s new nationwide consultation to help shape the new National Youth Strategy.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has launched Deliver You, a national “listening exercise” across England inviting young people to have their say on the issues and solutions that matter most to them. The #iwill Movement – powered by UK Youth and Volunteering Matters – is playing a key role in putting young people’s views at the centre of the National Youth Strategy.

Young people aged 10-21, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities, can get involved through a national survey, events and focus groups to gauge what support services, facilities and opportunities they need beyond the school gates to improve their lives and futures.

Oscar Bingham, UK Youth assistant director of research and impact, said: “UK Youth is proud to be part of a consortium, commissioned by DCMS to conduct research and facilitate this national conversation with young people.

“In partnership with Volunteering Matters – through our joint coordination of the #iwill Movement – My Life My Say and leading research agency Savanta, we are running a national survey, focus groups, Democracy Cafés and Hackathon-style events to hear from thousands of young people from a diversity of backgrounds across England.

“We have also engaged an incredible group of 10 ‘Youth Collaborators’ from across England, who are co-producing and co-delivering every element of the research with us. Young people have co-designed the campaign branding and our Youth Collaborators will support us to interpret the findings at the end of each phase and make recommendations to the Government.

“This is an exciting and ambitious programme of research and youth engagement which will deepen understanding of young people’s needs, preferences, perceptions and desires today and ensure they directly inform the National Youth Strategy.

“Our work to support the development of the National Youth Strategy builds on UK Youth’s extensive programme of research. Just today, we published our latest report, In Our Own Words, which explores the needs, preferences and perceptions of young people and youth practitioners across England, commissioned by NCS.”

Through this national conversation, young people will be able to submit their views on a range of topics including what issues matter to them in their local area, what services they think should be available to young people, and how funding should be spent in local communities.

Announcing the consultation, Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Young people are better at knowing what their needs are than we are, which is why they are at the centre of the co-production of our National Youth Strategy.  

“We want to hear from young people up and down the country through one of the most ambitious listening exercises for a generation. We are providing young people with a genuine voice, delivering on our Plan for Change and creating opportunities in every postcode.”

The survey is now open at iwill.org.uk/NYS-Deliver-You and will close on April 16. 

Sami Gichki, co-chair of #iwill, said: “The National Youth Strategy isn’t something that has been decided, it is open – it will be shaped by young people so that it will be fit for purpose. It is hope; hope for creating a nation where young people don’t just survive, but thrive!”

About UK Youth

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, see ukyouth.org

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/our-programmes

About the #iwill movement

#iwill is a movement comprised of more than 1,000 organisations and 700 young #iwill Ambassadors & Champions from across the UK. They are united by a shared belief that all children and young people should be supported and empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities, and broader society.

#iwill is empowering, challenging, independent, collaborative and inclusive – it belongs to everybody.

The #iwill movement is powered by young people and organisations. The #iwill Ambassadors and #iwill Champions, alongside organisations who sign up to the Power of Youth Charter, help ensure meaningful action is taken to support more children and young people to be active citizens.

The #iwill Partnership is made up of leaders of collective action groups working within and across sectors and nations of the UK to guide the #iwill movement. The independent #iwill Coordination Hub, hosted by Volunteering Matters and UK Youth supports the #iwill Partnership, #iwill Ambassadors and broader #iwill movement.