Connecting the National Youth Strategy with I Have A Voice

By Serena Kelly

The government has launched Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy – the first national plan for young people in over 20 years. It recognises what young people have been saying for a long time: we’re more connected and more isolated than ever; youth spaces and services have been cut back; and too many young people feel shut out of decisions about their own lives.

The strategy promises that every young person will have the skills, opportunities, support, and power to shape their community.

Many aspects of I Have A Voice (IHAV)’s work already align with this direction, so we’re pleased to see the Government prioritising it.

🗳️ Votes at 16 and political education

The strategy commits to lowering the voting age to 16 for all elections, strengthening compulsory citizenship education, and providing better information and support to encourage participation in democracy.

These are areas IHAV has been concentrating on for some time. In our sessions, young people don’t just learn about politics - they can see how it functions in real life, from Parliament to local councils, and experiment with turning their views into campaigns and clear demands.

Our work running the Electoral Commission’s Youth Voice Network for England supports young people to shape how voting can be made more accessible for other young people and to exercise their democratic rights.

⚡️ Becoming powerful

The strategy promises that Youth Councils, a Youth Policy Network, and funding for youth services should be co-designed with young people. Something that IHAV has been championing for some time.

At IHAV, we aim for young people to feel more empowered to participate and influence events, rather than just being present when they access political discussions and opportunities. We collaborate with young people in co-designing our teaching materials. As Youth Matters is implemented, we’ll continue working with young people to support its aims in practice.