What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
As a youth collaborator I’ve had the opportunity co-facilitate events, review data, and shape recommendations to ensure young people’s voices influence policy. I feel my biggest impact has been empowering young people to share their lived experiences confidently, helping bridge the gap between youth and decision-makers.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
Hearing young people speak openly about their lived experience of community and mental health at a Hack Event in Bristol was so powerful. Their honesty and passion highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces where young people feel heard and able to shape real change.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
1. Accessible, high-quality health services are tailored to support young people.
2. More opportunities for education, employment, and leadership pathways that empower young people to reach their full potential, regardless of background.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
As a national youth collaborator, I wanted to use my lived experience of advocacy, volunteering with young people, and working in and experiencing healthcare to ensure that young people’s voices are heard, valued and used to shape the systems and policies that affect them.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
Due to my role as Youth Collaborator, I’ve helped shape the #DeliverYour campaign’s communications, designed and led focus groups, and organised events such as Democracy Cafés and Hackathons. I also supported the analysis and synthesis of research.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
Personally, I feel my biggest impact has been in delivering and running these events. They’ve been a powerful space where young people could express their passion, insights, and lived experiences – helping bring the strategy to life.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
Looking ahead, the government urgently needs to address the deep-rooted inequalities that young people face every day. It must also set out a plan to support youth services and reverse the devastating 73% cut to youth services funding since 2010, which continues to have a lasting impact on our generation.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
I’ve drawn on my background in youth mental health activism and policy work to connect lived experience with policymaking. I think my biggest impact has been ensuring the consultation process centred underrepresented young voices, particularly on wellbeing and inclusion, so decision-makers heard directly from those most affected.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
During one of the Democracy Cafes, I met a nine-year-old who amazed me with her maturity and clarity when speaking about the issues that affected her. Her confidence showed the power of creating spaces where even the youngest feel heard, and reminded me that belonging and voice matter as much as policy itself.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
Firstly, I would say proper investment in early intervention mental health services. Young people deserve care that is accessible, community based and stigma-free. Secondly, I would like to see young people being given real influence in shaping policy rather than tokenistic engagement, particularly on issues like education, work and climate where their futures are at stake.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
I’m an award-winning youth mental health activist and speaker with lived experience, committed to ensuring young people’s voices on mental health, identity and community resilience meaningfully shape policy through co-production and active engagement with decision-makers.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
My role as a Youth Collaborator to the NYS has seen me lead the analysis of impact reports, data and statistics gathering, as well as hosting events for young people to get involved in the strategy. I feel I have had the most impact in ensuring that the evidence submitted to the government reflects the voice of young people, in particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds like that of Torbay.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
The most memorable moment? Aside from missing the VE day event due to GCSE exams, it would be the extent of engagement we have had. Each young person bringing a different story and background with a genuine passion for this strategy makes everything worthwhile.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
My top two priorities for government to include in the strategy are a reform of the education system to better encompass life skills and political education, and a lasting promise and plan for young people to continually have their voices heard at the top of decision making in the country.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
I’m a recognisable Youth Social Activist from Torbay, specialising in delivering passionate speeches engaging young people. I’m also a student at the London School of Economics.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
Being a Youth Collaborator allowed me to spotlight the issues across England. Issues relating to accessibility of transportation, aspirations for young people and social mobility. In the consultations, I always projected my strong opinions to ensure the National Youth Strategy was fit for purpose for young people.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
The culture in the consultations between the Youth Collaborators and Savanta have been special moments of collaboration, connection & cooperation. I have made great friends because of our cozy spaces that allowed for constructive conversations in a safe space, something I thoroughly cherished.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
My top two priorities for Young People are opportunities in skills, education and employment and accessibility of transport. This will build on their aspirations in life, then the feeling of financial security and a greater freedom of movement will contribute to improvements in wellbeing and belonging.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
As an elite athlete, winning matters for me and getting a great deal for Young People in the National Youth Strategy is something I always striving to achieve.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
My role in the NYS consultation has involved shaping the strategy through research, facilitation, and advocacy. As one of the youngest collaborators, I feel my greatest impact has been platforming youth voice across sectors and connecting local schools to the strategy and its aims.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
My most memorable moment was hearing young people from different regions share experiences that mirrored my own – it reminded me why youth voice matters. It has been incredible to be involved in something so long anticipated and meaningful, leaving a lasting impression on me.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
Based on what I’ve heard from young people in my region, my top priorities are accessible transport and youth voice. Many feel unsafe using unreliable public transport, causing increasing anxiety and limiting opportunities across distances. Youth voice is central, and young people deserve a say in decisions shaping their futures.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
With a background in climate and youth advocacy, I’m motivated by young people’s passion for change and a clear understanding of the challenges facing both young people and wider society.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
As a youth collaborator for the NYS, I’ve been able to interact with young people to help shape strategy. I definitely feel that I’ve made the most impact with regards to getting the voices of marginalised young people heard, which comes from my background working with young people across London.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
The most memorable moment for me was when I was facilitating a workshop of participants as young as 12. They knew exactly what they wanted from the NYS, thanks to their lived experiences, and communicated it so effectively. It gives me great hope that the future is in incredibly safe hands
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
From what I’ve heard from young people, my top two strategies for the government to include would be to increase funding into youth clubs. Give young people a safe space to go to, to be themselves, and to develop life skills. My second priority is tackling the youth knife crime epidemic across the country. These two priorities are closely linked: give young people a safe space, deterring them away from the dangers of knife crime.
What’s been your role in the NYS consultation, and where do you feel you’ve made the most impact?
I have co-facilitated a hack event, shaped research design through several meetings, and supported analysis and design of the Deliver You Campaign. My main impact was making sure I contributed perspectives young Londoners, especially those often overlooked, influenced the recommendations for the National Youth Strategy.
What’s been the most memorable or surprising moment during the consultation?
At the Ipswich Hack, watching young people who had never spoken in public present their priorities with confidence showed how meaningful consultation can be.
Based on what you’ve heard from other young people, what are your top two priorities for the Government to include in the Strategy?
1. Funded and accessible mental health support for young people
2. Stronger financial literacy education to prepare young people for adult life.
Tell us about yourself and what motivates you
I am a law student and strategic advisor sitting on various youth boards, driven to make sure policy reflects the realities of young people.