Youth Voice
Youth Voice isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a core part of who we are, embedded into how we operate.
What is Youth Voice?
We give young people the opportunity to speak out — to share their opinions, ideas, hopes and concerns — and to have those views heard and taken seriously. Youth Voice is about recognising that young people know what’s important to them and that they deserve to shape the decisions and spaces that affect their lives.
Creative Youth Network has a proud record of giving young people a voice, of getting their stories heard, and taking their views to decision-makers to effect change. But we know there is more we need to be doing.
How You Can Get Involved
If you’re a young person, head over to our ‘Have Your Say’ section to see current events and opportunities on how you can start influencing decisions through our events and activities. You can also read more about our approach to Youth Voice here.
How Youth Voice Guides Our Strategy
Youth Voice sits at the heart of our 2023–2028 strategy: it’s one of our four core strategic priorities.: People, Places, Funding and Youth Voice. Our Strategy acknowledges that young people want to make things fairer and better but they get way less than their fair share of decision-making authority.
We also have our Youth Participation Strategy, which is central to how we design programmes, involve young people, inform decisions, and build our future. We’ve committed to giving young people real opportunities: from influencing programmes to becoming young leaders, apprentices, creative commissioners, or even young trustees on our board.
It is very clear that young people feel valued and heard. Your dedication to driving positive change and creating a more inclusive and equitable society for young people is one to be cherished. May you continue to change young people’s lives through your outstanding meaningful work and delivery’’
National Youth Agency
Here’s some of the ways we’re delivering but there’s lots more to do!
Aim: Significantly increase our ability to amplify youth voice – getting young people’s voices heard and achieving practical and social change as a result.
We’re delivering events with national impact, but recognise that this needs coordination with partners, national bodies, funders and decision makers to really have impact. Crucially, it needs young people in the driving seat. Take a look at some of our recent activities:
Aim: To secure the NYA’s “Hear by Right” accreditation, to ensure we achieve best practice in youth participation.
We’re proud to have been awarded Flagship status! Hear by Right is a recognised framework (created by National Youth Agency, NYA) which helps organisations to plan, deliver and assess meaningful youth participation — making sure young people’s voice, influence, leadership and governance are built into all aspects of the organisation.
AIM: Deliver on our new Participation Strategy, including developing our flagship young leaders’ programme and a refreshed programme for employing young people.
We’ve refunded our young leaders’ programme and are seeing young people who have used our services taking up paid roles within our organisation, supporting those younger than themselves.
Want to partner with us to help young people’s voices be heard? Fill in the form below.
