New National Youth Strategy to break down barriers to opportunity for young people
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Young people will be invited to be part of a national conversation to help co-produce the Strategy to unlock opportunities in every community.
- Plans launched to create new National Youth Strategy by young people, for young people, as part of the government’s mission to improve opportunity
- An initial £85 million from government and £100 million from the Dormant Assets Scheme committed to improving youth outcomes
Plans for a new National Youth Strategy designed to put the views of young people at the centre of decision-making on policies that affect them has been unveiled today by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
Young people from across the country will be given the opportunity to co-produce a new approach with the government towards the support services, facilities and opportunities they need outside the school gates to benefit their lives and futures.
The Strategy will prioritise delivering better coordinated youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level. It will make sure decision-making moves away from a one-size-fits all approach, handing power back to young people and their communities, and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector. This will help deliver on the government’s missions, spreading opportunities, making our streets safer and taking pressure off health services.
To kickstart the process, the government is inviting young people to take part in a series of face-to-face engagements to ensure their perspectives and aspirations are at the heart of decision making. They will then be asked to share their views as part of a ‘Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Nation’ conversation on how best to help the next generation of young people.
A youth advisory board will be established to work with the government throughout the development process, alongside in-depth engagement with youth organisations, industry leaders and academics specialising in youth issues.
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: For too long, the nation’s young people have been deprived of a meaningful seat at the table in the decisions that directly impact their lives.
That is why this Government is committed to taking a bold, transformative approach to young people – one that walks alongside them and values their experiences and perspectives, rather than assuming we can simply swoop in and fix things for them.
Through the co-production of a new National Youth Strategy, we will put young people back in charge of their own destiny, starting with better understanding of their lives and needs. This will allow us to shape policy that not only keeps up with the rapidly evolving challenges of today, but is also effective in ensuring that opportunity for young people is abundant in every postcode.”