Young participants in the UK’s largest youth consultation have stated health and wellbeing is their biggest concern. These results mirror the outcome of the previous Make Your Mark vote in 2022, indicating health and wellbeing remains an issue of prescient concern. The statement follows the British Youth Council’s announcement that the charity will close.
Over half a million 11-18 year old’s took part in the ballot, which was launched by UK Youth Parliament in January. The volume of young participants, up from 2022 by close to 100,000, illustrates just how passionate young people feel about exercising their democratic voice. Since Make Your Mark began in 2011, issues related to health and wellbeing has been highlighted as an area of concern on 8 occasions.
A spokesperson for the British Youth Council said: “We’re proud that so many young people used their voice to tell decision-makers what matters to them.
“It’s clear improving young people’s health and wellbeing is an area the Government should invest significant energy towards. In a general election year, we hope decision-makers utilise these results to shape policy changes that will really impact young people’s lives”
The campaign, which ran from 29th January to the 8th March, was delivered by the British Youth Council on behalf of UK Youth Parliament. It was funded with the support of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
As in previous years, the British Youth Council worked alongside the Centre for Youth Impact to gather insight into the results of the vote.