Young people deserve more than a say – they deserve a seat at the table

For too long, decisions affecting young people have too often been made without them in the room.

That is changing.

Thousands of young people have helped shape the government’s national youth strategy, Youth Matters, which launched in December last year. More than 14,000 young people shared their experiences, priorities and ambitions, helping us understand what they need to thrive. Their message was loud and clear: they want somewhere to go, something to do and someone who cares about them. They want their voices to be heard and acted upon.

The challenge for government is not simply to listen once and move on. It is to build young people’s participation into the way decisions are made every day.

That is why the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has become the first central government department to sign the Power of Youth Charter. It’s part of our commitment to  bringing youth voices into decision-making as we implement Youth Matters, the first new national youth strategy from any government in 15 years.

The charter, developed by the #iWill movement and backed by hundreds of organisations across the country, is built on a simple principle: young people should have meaningful opportunities to influence the decisions that affect their lives and communities.

Signing the charter means embedding young people’s voices throughout the delivery of the national youth strategy. More than ever, young people will have opportunities to contribute to writing policy, take part in recruitment and grant-making processes, and shape how programmes are designed and evaluated. We will also create new opportunities for young people to learn about working in central government through shadowing placements within DCMS policy teams.

Listening to young people must be matched by investing in their futures. The national youth strategy is backed by £500million of DCMS funding, and on Wednesday 3 June, we announced £10 million in funding for The King’s Trust’s new youth opportunity initiative, backed by Sir Gareth Southgate, to improve access to trusted adults, training, skills and work experience – something young people have told us they need. 

Most importantly, we are giving young people the opportunity to hold the government to account through an annual hearing on the progress of the national youth strategy.

Signing this charter reflects a wider belief that young people are not passive recipients of policy. They are active citizens, leaders, volunteers, campaigners and innovators. Every day, across towns, cities and rural communities, young people are already making a difference through social action, volunteering and community leadership.

We see this spirit in the work of the #iWill movement, which has helped champion youth-led change across the country. We see it in grassroots organisations supporting young people to improve their communities. And we see it in the countless young people who are stepping forward to tackle local challenges, support their peers and create positive change.

We also believe that the government has a responsibility to recognise and support that contribution.

By signing the Power of Youth Charter, we are making a clear commitment to do exactly that and I encourage other public organisations to do the same.

The voices of young people should not be heard only as a reaction to ideas or decisions. They should be part of the conversation from the beginning.

When young people have a real voice, we can better influence and shape their futures.

Stephanie Peacock is Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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