The British Youth Council is sad to announce its permanent closure after more than 75 years of championing the voices of young people.
Speaking on behalf of the charity and the Board of Trustees, Zara Khan, Chair of the British Youth Council said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the permanent closure of the British Youth Council as ongoing financial challenges have resulted in insolvency.
“We know this news will come as a shock to young people across the country, generations of people who have been part of the youth voice movement, our supporters and many of our partners.
“Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to provide a sustainable future for the charity. The economic environment has significantly impacted our ability to generate income. This was further cemented by the recent administration of our dedicated and passionate partners The Body Shop.
“Since the charity’s establishment, we have been committed to creating an environment where young people’s views are valued, sought and acted upon. We still believe this mission continues to be imperative to creating a better democracy for all.
“We’re proud of the relentless work we’ve done which has seen us engage millions of young people throughout our history, and we know we leave behind a legacy of impact on the lives of countless people who have been able to find their voice and improve the lives of others in the UK and across the world through our international work.
“As we begin preparations to cease operations, we know an unjust and unequal society prevails. Young people continue to need better mental health services, the cost of living crisis is significantly impacting the lives of too many young people, the need to address the climate emergency is more pertinent, and young people continue to be left out of our democracy at such a crucial time.
“The charity has a longstanding and proud history of standing up for the most marginalised communities. We know young people still face a society marred by discrimination whether that’s ableism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, islamophobia or antisemitism. It’s incumbent on all of us to reject this kind of society.
“We would like to thank our dedicated staff team, volunteers, partners and funders, past and present, who have made our work possible. We can be proud of our joint efforts to ensure young people are empowered to bring about social and political change in their communities.
“Young people care about their communities, peers and wider society. We call on all of our supporters to remind decision-makers across the country that, particularly in times of societal hardship, young people’s voices must be heard.”
The charity will work with partners and the UK Government to secure the future of our programmes as much as possible.
The British Youth Council was initially set up by the Foreign Office in 1948, however, in 1963 the organisation became independent of the government as a charity. In recent years, the National Youth Council of the UK has been known for its campaigns and for its flagship youth voice programme which is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and UK Parliament.