This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: The post Protected: Young people reflect on Labour’s General Election win appeared first on UK Youth ..read more

UK Youth has welcomed the Government’s commitment in the King’s Speech today to tackle a range of issues affecting young people. However, the previous commitment to lower the voting age to 16 was not included and this was a missed opportunity. The King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament today outlined the Government’s legislative plans for the year ahead. King Charles III said there will be legislation introduced to help tackle anti-social behaviour.  King Charles III reads the King’s Speech in the House of Lords chamber, during the State Opening of Parliament. Picture ..read more

A teenager has hailed the impact of a youth employability programme in his search for work. Hatch, a partnership between fast-food giant KFC and national youth work charity UK Youth, helps young people aged 16-24 who have faced barriers to employment, to build their work skills, confidence and land their first job. Ryan Sinnott, a participant of the Hatch programme in Liverpool, where the scheme is delivered by the Merseyside Youth Association, said: “I’ve faced so many challenges in my hunt for a job. There’s a lack of opportunity for young people across the board, and if you don’t have ..read more

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The chief executive of UK Youth was among a number of leading figures who joined King Charles III and actor Idris Elba to discuss violence affecting young people. Ndidi Okezie OBE, UK Youth chief executive officer, joined Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, young people and representatives from BigKid, Youth Endowment Fund, Bounce Back, Youth United Foundation and The Prince’s Trust – becoming the King’s Trust – for the discussion at St James’s Palace in London. The talks explored how alternative options, such as access to employmen ..read more

UK Youth says there is ‘no time to lose’ for the new Government when it comes to supporting youth services. Oscar Bingham, UK Youth acting director of research & impact, said: “We look forward to working with the new Government to unlock the power of youth work for all. “In its manifesto, Labour recognised the importance of youth work and committed to expand access to this life-changing support, as well as to extend the right to vote to all 16 and 17-year-olds. “Labour has also pledged to spend almost £300 million a year to deliver Young Futures Hubs, increase youth workers in ..read more

This article first appeared in FE Week on June 27, 2024 The party manifestos are now out for the public to consider in the run up to the General Election on Thursday, July 4, writes Jacob Diggle, UK Youth chief impact officer. We have seen a range of commitments from across the political parties, but what does this mean for young people and for the professionals who support them?   The importance of youth work Whoever walks into 10 Downing Street has a daunting task ahead. They have to find a way to deliver their promises, despite challenging economic conditions and heavy strain ..read more

More than 100 young people will join author Alastair Campbell, public policy advisor Salma Shah and campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa to share opinions on politics, youth engagement and the issues that matter most to them Event hosted by the Back Youth Alliance, a coalition of UK leading youth organisations, including UK Youth Research shows only one in 10 young people believe politicians focus on youth needs As the General Election campaign enters its final week, more than 100 young people – many from the UK’s most disadvantaged communities – will gather in central London to share thei ..read more

UK Youth has urged political parties to prioritise the role of youth work when it comes to tackling knife crime. Sir Keir Starmer has today announced plans to halve knife crime incidents within 10 years, if Labour win the General Election on Thursday, July 4. Pledging to host an annual summit, the Labour Party leader said it would be a “moral mission” for his government, if elected, to cut knife crime. It comes after crimes involving knives or sharp instruments in England and Wales rose 7 per cent, from 46,153 in 2022, to 49,489 in 2023. Tackling knife crime will be a moral mission a ..read more

In this election period, UK Youth has been urging all political parties to: Deliver the long-term leadership and investment needed to unlock youth work for all young people; Prioritise youth workers as essential roles – alongside teachers, social workers, and therapists – for implementing effective policies for young people; and Listen to young people by embedding youth voice into policy-making. We are pleased many of the smaller party manifestos recognise the essential role of youth workers and the importance of young people’s voices, writes Jacob Diggle, UK Youth chief impact officer. T ..read more