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. Here's a bit about BYC's history, and the exciting and sometimes rocky path BYC took to become the National Youth Council of the UK.

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 60's

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 Seventies

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 Eighties

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  In this period, BYC also had its founding Foreign Office grant withdrawn, following changes in international relations.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 Nineties

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.

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. 

If you would like any more information on BYC's history, please contact our Press Office by telephoning 020 7785 6463 or email press@byc.org.uk.