The British Youth Council has announced it will campaign to encourage young people to register to vote and turn out in large numbers at the next General Election.
The new campaign called ‘Let’s Get Loud’ has been developed by young people for young people in partnership with the Body Shop.
Let’s Get Loud is part of a renewed effort to ensure young people not only participate in elections taking place next year but are heard by decision-makers and prospective candidates.
Recent research conducted by the Body Shop indicates that 71% of young people don’t feel that political parties and candidates speak directly to young people enough in the lead-up to elections.
The national youth council is keen to reiterate that young people care about their future and should have their issues discussed and addressed by decision-makers.
Zara Khan, Chair of the British Youth Council, said: “Young people care about their futures, their peers, and their communities. When given the opportunity to engage they have plenty to say about the society they wish to see.
“With this in mind, we’re really excited about launching Let’s Get Loud. This is our opportunity to call on politicians to engage with young people and to drive young voter turnout in the next General Election”
Encouraging engagement in formal political processes continues to be an issue amongst younger voters, particularly those aged 18-25, with almost two-fifths admitting that they didn’t vote in the last election.
As part of the campaign, the youth-led charity has launched a Voter Hub for young people which will contain everything they need to engage in the elections taking place in 2024.
The British Youth Council will work with its members and partners to develop and publish useful resources for young people to ensure they have the tools and confidence to engage in the elections.