20 March 2026
Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit | 17 February 2026
In February, #iWill Ambassadors from across the UK travelled to London to take part in the Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit – a day dedicated to putting young people at the heart of education change.
The event brought together youth leaders, campaigners, policymakers and sector experts. During a panel discussion on key policy announcements linked to the new National Youth Strategy, #iWill Ambassador Kole contributed to conversations about the Richer Young Lives Fund — a commitment to invest £60 million in youth services across England and other UK regions.
Exploring youth voice, leadership and changemaking
Mark — #iWill Ambassador & Student Governor, SERC
Reflecting on the summit, Mark shared:
“It was an amazing experience that really opened my eyes to fresh ways of amplifying student voices in education policy.”
Throughout the day, Mark took part in workshops exploring:
- Youth strategy and national engagement models
- Ethical AI for campaigning
- Theatre as activism
- Practical SEND inclusion, including BSL introductions
- Networking with peers, including groups such as SSUNI
He added:
“It was inspiring to see massive youth engagement methods put into action, sparking ideas on mental health, safety, and local partnerships that I feel can be directly relevant to further education challenges, especially in Northern Ireland.”
Another ambassador reflected on the sense of support from the outset:
“It was really nice to have an #iWill member of staff take us from the airport to the event. The event was very enjoyable — I met loads of new people and I learnt lots too.”
Connie also attended the event and highlighted the range of opportunities the summit offered:
“Yesterday, I went to London to attend the Fair Education Alliance Youth Summit. We met with politicians along with Zack Polanski and MPs. I got to attend some really useful and insightful workshops, including learning about the English Votes at 16 campaign and how I got to help influence the educational resources which the Department of Education are hoping to roll out alongside Votes at 16.”
In a session focused on SEND inclusion and BSL, Connie and others explored:
- Barriers faced by SEND students
- Approaches to breaking down these barriers
- First-hand learning from BSL interpreters
- A taster of basic sign language
She added:
“It was an amazing opportunity to meet lots of young people all with the common goal of making our education systems more inclusive.”
Kaiden — #iWill Ambassador with Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party and Dylan Law, Green Party Candidate for Hackney Downs.
A summit that proves what young people can do
The FEA Youth Summit reinforced a powerful message: When young people are trusted, supported, and given real platforms to contribute, they don’t just attend events — they influence conversations, shape thinking, and take learning back to strengthen their own communities.
