The British Youth Council is calling on the UK public to support the voices of young people on the issues that matter to them. Their latest plea coincides with International Youth Day which focuses on the barriers to intergenerational solidarity, notably ageism, which impacts young people across the world.
Representing millions of young people, the youth-led organisation believes young people ought to live in a world where their views are not only sought but acted on. The national charity has been campaigning and amplifying the voices of young people on a number of issues including child poverty, the climate emergency, mental health and its recent renewed efforts to address democratic unfairness with the Body Shop through its campaign for votes at 16.
Speaking on behalf of the charity, Sarah Staples, Chair of the British Youth Council said: “When given the chance, young people will play an active role in the decision-making affecting their lives, their peers, and wider society. Today we celebrate International Youth Day recognising the power of young people’s ideas for political and social change, and the solidarity that is needed to amplify them.
“We need the wider public’s support if we are to drive home just how important it is that young people’s concerns and solutions are to be sought and acted upon.”
Recent research by the UN and The Body Shop as part of the Be Seen, Be Heard campaign, reveals the majority of people agree that the age balance in politics is wrong. More than two-thirds (69%) of people across all age groups agree that more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development/change would make political systems better.
The national charity, which has a long history of supporting young people to define their own actions for change, believes a wider cross-section of society can support its quest to bring young people’s views to the forefront of social and political change.
How can you support?
Write to your local decision-makers about the priorities of young people.
Make a one-off donation to the British Youth Council to strengthen our drive to bring young people together to find their voice and use it to improve the lives of young people.