Our supporters helped young people's voices get heard in the General Election 2010.

200 young people launched the Manifesto through a demo in Westminster, and took part in a short film about the Manifesto.

BYC members and youth councils across the UK proudly promoted BYC campaigns in their local areas. A big thanks to the following organisations who hosted our vTalent campaigners:

Liberal Youth; Northern Ireland Youth Forum; St Edmunds Catholic School (Portsmouth); Havering Sixth Form College; National Youth Conference at Rix Mix; Broadway Barking Youth Theatre; Horsham Youth Council; Northallerton Youth Council; Huntingdon Youth Council; Epping Forest Youth Council; Pershore Youth Council; Braunstone Youth Council; Wolverhampton Youth Council; Sandwell Youth Forum. 
 

BYC spokespeople represented the youth vote in national and local media.

Young people took to the streets to rally others to register to vote.

Over 300 prospective parliamentary candidates pledged to take action on the Manifesto’s priorities if elected.

The following individuals and organisations also gave their support:

All to often young people are seen as a problem to be solved, rather than equal citizens in our society. I am particularly pleased, therefore, to give the Green Party's support to lowering the voting age to 16 so that young people have a better opportunity to make their voice heard. The Greens believe fair is worth fighting for and I also support the pledges on transport, an equal national minimum wage, mental health services and ending poverty. Caroline Lucas MEP, Green Party Leader and now MP for Brighton Pavilion.

I support the British Youth Council and Youth Councils up and down the country because I think it’s vital for young people to find their voice, get involved, and speak out for what’s needed in society and every local community.

Now the youngest MP in the country, I took my first steps into politics through setting up a youth forum in Norwich at the age of 16. I’m delighted now to be able to contribute a young person’s perspective to national politics, although the most important role, in my view, is to represent all of my constituents, young and old, rich and poor, male and female - everyone who gave me the honour of sitting in Parliament on their behalf.

I wish you well in everything you try to achieve. The British Youth Council is a strong and impressive organisation and can only grow and gain from each member’s gift of time and effort. Keep up the good work! Chloe Smith MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Norwich North and then youngest MP in the House of Commons.

We very much welcome the British Youth Council Manifesto - being youth led - and its call for the voting age to be reduced. Voting at 16 is Liberal Democrat policy and has been for a long time. If young people can marry at 16 and join the military at 16 - then it's about time they had equal political rights. Well done BYC!  Lynne Featherstone MP, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey & Wood Green and now Minister for Equality. 

I'm very supportive of the work of BYC, and with the exception of continuing doubts over lowering voting age, I substantially support the five point manifesto.

I'm particularly pleased that the issue which has exercised a number of representative youth groups, including the Youth Parliament, of access to reliable and high quality transport is one of the key issues included. I hope this can be linked not just to concessionary fares, but to properly regulated, coordinated and safe school transport for the seven million young people who deserve better than many of them have available at present.

Perhaps votes for younger people would after all make politicians sit up and take notice! David Blunkett MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Sheffield, Brightside. 

The BYC Manifesto must be listened to. It is a manifesto from the next generation, for their own future. It is a manifesto from young people themselves, not from people speaking on their behalf. It is a manifesto for simple practical actions that will have the power to transform lives and communities. Support for the manifesto will give encouragement; acting upon the manifesto will give confidence; delivering the manifesto will make a real difference. Derek Twine CBE, Chief Executive, Scout Association.

 

Girlguiding UK congratulates the BYC on sixty years of empowering young people. As an organisation that exists to give girls and young women a voice and enable them to make a difference in the world, Girlguiding UK supports the BYC’s campaign to ensure that at the next election MPs and candidates take notice of what young people have to say. The BYC Manifesto is important because it represents young people speaking for themselves, and it is vital that their voices are heard. Girlguiding UK.

The Scottish Youth Parliament firmly believes that the voting age should be lowered to 16. Supported by the views of young people across Scotland, for us it’s an issue of fairness – if you’re old enough to get married, join the army or pay taxes you should be allowed to vote!

The SYP also thinks that people should be paid equally for doing the same job. There should be an equal minimum wage for all, including those in training. This could help end child poverty by 2020 - no child or young person should have to live in poverty or without a home. Derek Couper MSYP, Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament.

The Northern Ireland Youth Forum supports BYC efforts to encourage young people across the UK to campaign on their own issues to create positive change. It is important that young people are supported to identify their own issues and work together to raise awareness and create change. Through this work young people have the opportunity to shape their communities and their futures. Northern Ireland Youth Forum.

We would like to show our support for the Manifesto's five proposals which really get to the heart of what matters most for young people in Britain today. The manifesto outlined is especially important because rather than other people telling politicians what young people think and need, it is good to see that it has actually come from young people saying it for themselves. Canterbury Christ Church Students' Union would like to praise the manifesto which the British Youth Council has put forward and pledge our support to do whatever we can to help the youth of today have their say. Canterbury Christ Church Student Union.

We are proud to support the British Youth Council Manifesto, The Woodcraft Folk, as an active member of BYC, believes that we need to engage and empower young people to improve their lives. It is unacceptable that child poverty has grown, that young people are still discriminated against at work with different pay and that there is too often no access for young people to mental health support. Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Chair, Woodcraft Folk.

NCB supports BYC's manifesto Our Parliament, Our Vision, and in particular its call for more affordable public transport for young people. This is an issue raised time and time again by the young people we work with. Without accessible, safe and affordable transport, young people will simply not be able to reach the education and employment opportunities that benefit themselves and the economy, nor get involved in their local communities and stay in touch with family and friends. Investment in improved services is wasted if public transport is inaccessible for those living in isolated areas and young disabled people, or unaffordable for poorer families. If we want young people to continue in education, excel in employment and play an active part in our communities, we need to make it possible for them to reach their destinations. Paul Ennals CBE, Chief Executive, National Children's Bureau.

Global Forum 40 (GF40) is proud to support the British Youth Council's General Election Manifesto Campaign. We believe it is time politicians across the country sat back and listened to young people, ensuring our voices are taken forward and that these five key priority actions are implemented within the next Government. In particular GF40 recognises the growing urgency of investing in comprehensive youth mental health services, it is becoming too often young people are sidelined and shunned by society, due to the fact off in adequate services and the time and resources to help those young people most at need. Scott Forbes, Founding Director, Global Forum 40.

Anyone who has worked with young people knows that there is no shortage of enthusiasm or desire to help shape the world around them. This is particularly true when they feel that their input is valued and makes a difference. I am pleased to support the BYC General Election Manifesto. Campaigns like this are crucial if we are to genuinely harness the valuable insight that young people can bring to policy makers and help to bring about a new generation of engaged and empowered young people. Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive, 4Children.

The English Secondary Students' Association (ESSA) fully support the current work of BYC and their General Election Manifesto. Young people need to be consulted more by elected politicians nationally, and I hope that BYC can achieve this. This year presents an important year in the history of our nation. One behalf of ESSA, its Council and the young people we work with, I wish BYC the best of luck with their Manifesto.  Andrew Elliott, Chair, the English Secondary Students' Association (ESSA).

Mental Health services for children and young people are in desperate need of attention and improvement. Across the UK there is even inconsistency concerning the age when a young person has to access adult services rather than CAMHS. Adult services are not designed for young people, it is not acceptable to place a young person on a ward with older adults some of whom may be very distressed and sometimes violent. My transition between CAMHS and adult mental health services was appalling and sadly I ended up in on an adult ward before I even had my first appointment with adult services. Important information was not transferred and my team where reluctant to find out my history which meant the correct help was not given to me. I dread to think how many other young people are not getting the help they so desperately need. Rachael, Very Important Kids Panel, Young Minds.

The Boys' Brigade fully supports the BYC in producing this Manifesto that pushes forward the issues that young people have identified as important to them. All of the five policy issues represent areas that should be debated nationally in the run-up to the General Election. We wish BYC well in its campaigning.The Boys’ Brigade.

NUS welcomes the BYC General Election manifesto which highlights some of the pressing needs for young people in Britain today. From lack of affordable transport right through to the broader challenges of fighting child poverty the manifesto captures the concerns of our members. NUS particularly welcomes the continuing fight for Votes at 16, which NUS believes is crucial to tackling the wider social and economic challenges our young members face. We hope MP's and PPC's sit up and take note, as NUS joins BYC in securing their commitments on these core proposals.  Susan Nash, Vice President Society & Citizenship, National Union of Students. 
   

We believe this is a fantastic achievement for young people, and hope that it will go forward to greatly influence youth issues in Parliament in the future. We fully support all five of the main issues raised in it - they are highly topical for young people today and require instant action. In particular, we endorse cheaper transport provision for young people. We are proud to be a member of an organisation that truly represents issues important to young people today. Sarah Ritzenthaler, Chair, Wolverhampton City Youth Council.

Liberal Youth fully endorse the BYC manifesto. We have long supported the right to vote from sixteen year). National minimum wage: one of our candidates has in fact submitted a motion on this topic, which will hopefully become policy. Liberal Youth strongly support the National Youth Transport Concession card – London Liberal Youth have argued for cheaper transport for young people in the past and will continue to do so. Child Poverty is an issue that the Liberal Democrats have looked at, particularly recently and we support the idea of comprehensive mental health services for young people. Liberal Youth.

 The UK Youth Climate Coalition are thrilled to be able to add our voice to those already expressing support for BYC's youth manifesto. It's hugely important that young people are listened to, and its fantastic that the 5 points have been put forward by young people themselves. This is a manifesto that demands the voice of young people to be heard now, one that rightly demands a happy, healthy, affordable and sustainable life for young people everywhere - both now and in the future. We hope that the manifesto sees the gravitas of the youth demographic recognised by politicians, and we hope that the 2010 election sees youth issues, including climate change, pushed to the top of the political agenda. Ellie Hopkins and Alex Farrow, Co-directors, the UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC). 

 

A big thank you to everyone who gave their support to this campaign.