BYC has been around since 1948; more than six decades of
empowering young people to have a say and be heard. In 2008 we
celebrated 60 years of our activities - that's a lot of young
people, youth issues, music, fashions, governments and
politics.
Uniting young people across Britain since 1948
BYC was born into a tense world of international relations
just after World War Two. Established by the Foreign Office
of the British Government in 1948 in preparation for the 'World
Assembly on Youth', the original purpose of BYC was to unite young
people in Britain against the forces of communism.
Independence in the free-thinking 60s
In 1963 BYC gained independence from the British
Government, and we've been a charity working to champion the
opinions of young people ever since. BYC's work to bring
together youth councils across the UK really took off in the late
Sixties, before expanding into developing our own network of local
youth councils. This move was championed by then BYC staff
member John Denham, now Secretary of State for Innovation,
Universities and Skills.
Supporting young people's causes in the 70s
In the 1970s BYC really made an impact, helping build the
profile of youth politics. In 1971, Prime Minister
Edward Heath gave the keynote speech at the 'World Assembly on
Youth' organised by BYC in Manchester. By now, BYC's
tradition of electing young, vibrant Chairs was making a huge
impression on youth policy, with David Hunt (now a member of the
House of Lords), Janet Paraskeva (now First Civil Service
Commissioner) and Peter Mandelson (now Secretary of State for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) all serving terms as
BYC Chair.
As our reputation grew, BYC published the influential "Youth
Unemployment: Cause and Cures" report, taking it to the Prime
Minister, Jim Callaghan, in Downing Street to discuss the issue of
youth unemployment. BYC representatives also
attended the controversial 11th World Festival on Youth,
held in Cuba, where debate included human rights issues in the
USSR and USA.
Tough times in the cash-strapped 80s
The 1980s were tough times for the British Youth Council.
In 1987, BYC Scotland closed due to funding cuts by the Government
at the time. In this period, BYC also had its founding
Foreign Office grant withdrawn, following changes in international
relations. However, BYC marched on, continuing to support and
promote local youth councils, as well as helping to make
history as the UK signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child.
Leading in research and campaigns on youth issues in the
90s
In the 1990s BYC teamed up with other organisations to lead
campaigns including getting young people registered to vote,
and on issues of young people's employment. BYC also blazed a
trail in youth policy and research, with a number of
influential journals and publications. With the support of the
Government, BYC also increased our direct training and
participation programmes, such as Youth on Board, reaching into
youth organisations and local youth councils.
A decade of hard work in research, consultation and
policy culminated in the year 2000, when BYC conducted the
biggest consultation with young people ever commissioned by the
Government, on issues like education, employment and young people
having their say. The findings, 'Listening to the Unheard',
led the formulation of the European White Paper on Youth which BYC
coordinated as the UK members of the European Youth Forum.
Empowering young people in the Noughties
Today, BYC continues to build on our past successes and we pride
ourselves on being a unique and inspiring organisation working
across the UK to empower young people aged 25 and under to
have a voice and be heard. BYC is truly led by young people
for young people. Our Board of Trustees is made up entirely of
young people, our staff team works alongside young volunteers,
and we have a fantastic group of young campaigners and media
spokespeople.
In 2008, our 60th anniversary year, BYC celebrated with a series
of campaign activities designed to promote positive images of young
people by celebrating our achievements over the past 60 years and
the value of our contribution
today. This included BYC's '16 at 60' campaign
to lower the voting age to 16. BYC has been campaigning for
votes at 16 for over a decade, and along with the other members of
the Votes at 16 Coalition, feels that now is the time for the
Government to make a brave move to empower the next generation.
The full 'Celebrating 60 years of BYC' story can be
downloaded below if you'd like to read more about the
issues, people and events that have shaped BYC in the past. It is
this legacy which inspires today's BYC members, volunteers,
trustees and staff team to continue blazing a trail on behalf of
young people across the UK - whoever we are and wherever we're
from.
2010 and beyond
We're certainly busy! We're working flat out to continue
enabling young people to campaign for change and a better
future, to grow our network of over 500 local youth councils
and member organisations, and to support young people to play their
part in making the decisions that affect them.
We are delighted to have added some recognition to our brand -
with Investors in Volunteers, PQASSO Level 2, and Charity
Commission Quality Standard kitemarks along with Positive Images
Awards 2010, and Board of the Year 2010.
If you would like more information about BYC's history,
please contact our Press Office by telephoning 020 7250 8368 or
email jemma.roche@byc.org.uk.
