The British Youth Council  is disappointed that the final report of the Riots, Communities and Victims Panel, published today, virtually ignores the crucial role young people can play in strengthening communities.

BYC welcomes the report's key recommendations - particularly around tackling youth unemployment and increasing the provision of services for young people - many of which mirror the findings of its own report, Our Streets, which collated the views of over 900 young people across the UK. However, the charity criticises the report for treating young people as passive recipients of the proposed interventions, rather than seeing young people themselves as part of the solution.

BYC is now calling on decision makers to ensure young people are involved in taking the report's recommendations forward, as part of a greater recognition of the positive contribution that young people make to communities.

Liam Preston, Chair of the British Youth Council, said:

"BYC believes that young people are an integral part of communities and that to neglect their views and role will undermine all of our futures.

"Our report 'Our Streets', which includes the views of over 900 young people, found that the vast majority of young people want to be more engaged in their communities, and many already are, as leaders and community volunteers. So I'm disappointed to see that the riot panel did not give more thought to involving young people when putting together its recommendations.

"We cannot hope to strengthen communities without strengthening the role of the young people who live in them, so we are calling on decision makers to celebrate the difference young people are making to communities across the UK, and find new ways to nourish and invest in youth participation."