TO BE PUBLISHED May 2025
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This conference will examine next steps for the National Youth Strategy. It will be an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to assess priorities for development and implementation.
Resources and community
Areas for discussion include how support and funding being provided can best be targeted, and charting the future roles and responsibilities of wider society in youth initiatives - including charities and voluntary groups, local government and schools, sporting and cultural institutions, as well as employers in wider business sectors, and young people themselves.
Engagement and collaboration
Delegates will discuss priorities for collaboration, including co-production with young people in the design and implementation of the strategy, and the role of the Government’s Youth Advisory Board. Strategies for diverse youth representation in the creation of the strategy will also be discussed, as well as priorities for embedding inclusivity into the design and implementation, including support for young people in rural areas, disadvantaged communities, and from underrepresented backgrounds.
Youth programmes and initiatives
Sessions will consider strategies for overcoming barriers to accessing youth services, including pressures on youth clubs, alongside key issues such as improving mental health support for young people. Attendees will also assess how support can be structured for youth programmes, including the distribution of funding to communities and local authorities, and implications for existing initiatives, such as the Youth Investment Fund and the Better Youth Spaces programme.
Education Institutions
The role of schools and education providers will also be discussed, with delegates assessing opportunities for unlocking school facilities for youth service delivery, priorities for collaboration between education institutions and private providers of extracurricular activities, and strategies for widening access and improving participation.
Promoting opportunity
Further sessions will discuss what will be needed for successful delivery of the Local Youth Transformation Pilot, including priorities for growing skills within local authorities to support youth service provision, key considerations for funding allocation in local areas, and next steps for building wider capabilities, facilities and partnerships for youth development. Career pathways and priorities for enhancing the employability of young people will also be considered, following the expansion of the Creative Careers Programme announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget.
We also expect discussion on the role of work placements and apprenticeships, and what can be learned and carried forward from the National Citizen Service in creating an effective National Youth Strategy.
We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Kayleigh Wainwright, Head, Youth Strategy Engagement, DCMS; Abbee McLatchie, Director, Youth Work, National Youth Agency; Ruth Marvel, CEO, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award; and Ben Marson, Interim Director, Fundraising and Marketing, The King’s Trust.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- National Youth Strategy:
- priorities for collaboration with young people on design and implementation - next steps for allocation of funding
- support needed to improve local authority capabilities in youth services - learning from the NCS programme - priorities for the creation of a Local Youth Transformation Pilot
- funding: addressing gaps in financial support for youth programmes - priorities for investment - support for community groups and local authorities in accessing finance
- inclusion and access: challenges for young people in rural areas - supporting the needs of marginalised groups - addressing geographic and socioeconomic barriers
- partnerships:
- growing engagement of key sectors in youth development, including cultural and sport organisations - support for youth clubs - charities, voluntary groups and faith communities
- the role of schools, colleges and higher education - access to extracurricular activities for young people - increasing volunteering opportunities
- health and wellbeing: addressing mental health challenges for young people - tackling knife crime, gang culture and substance abuse - putting in place targeted support
- employment: advice, guidance and preparation for the jobs market - work placements and apprenticeships - expansion of the Creative Careers Programme - ongoing mentoring
- accountability: benchmarks, targets and timelines - coordination and responsibilities - reporting and monitoring progress - assessing effectiveness of youth service provision and further options
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
