Youth Voice Yorkshire & Humber is unique in the region being a representative regional body led by young people speaking out and working to ensure young people’s views are heard and are taken seriously in matters which affect them. Youth Voice Y&H have met with MPs, Metro Mayors, Police and Crime Commissioners, LA officers, Councillors, Health bodies, service providers, businesses and others to progress their concerns or in response to invitations and consultations.
Youth Voice Steering Group (YVSG)
Youth Voice work in Yorkshire and the Humber is led by young people through the Youth Voice Steering Group, made up of one young person from each LA area across the region and regional youth voice groups. They focus on issues that cross LA geographical boundaries, plan and drive the work forward. This embodies the YWU’s commitment to promoting young people’s voice and influence which is a key objective for the YWU and is set out in our Youth Voice strategy.
The YVSG meets online monthly and quarterly in person, to plan, facilitate and evaluate thematic events and gatherings for groups of their peers where they can meet with and influence Decision and Policy Makers. They also plan and help deliver the annual induction residential training event. A key role is applying for funding to deliver their work over the course of the year.
For the latest report on Youth Voice Work see our annual report.
You can read the final report of the Erasmus+ funded Yorkshire and the Humber Youth Voice project here:
Youth Voice Activities
Local Authorities partner YWU’s broad based regional Youth Voice (YV) offer which complements and extends the range of work they undertake locally, giving young people opportunities to progress and to have a voice at both a national and regional level. Our YV includes the following activities
National representation – support to young people who sit on the following bodies
National Young Inspectors – is part of National scheme where Young people undertake training to become an inspector. Working in small teams young people from a range of lived experiences, visit specific services such as health clinics, National Funders, museums, youth provision to look at how effective services are for young people.
We have contributed to the creation of a National Inspection Framework. Which contains guidance on the delivery of youth led inspections. It is written for any organisations or individuals who are interested in setting up youth led inspections as a method of youth participation. The aim of the document is to provide a broad set of guidance principles to help improve the quality and impact of youth inspection.
Arts Council England Youth Advisory Board – consist of 18 young people from across the North of England as part of our pilot programme. Together they work with staff throughout our organisation to ensure the voices of children and young people are at the heart of what we do.
National Youth Combined Assembly – M5. The NYCA brings together the Metro Mayor’s Youth Combined Assemblies to work on joint projects,. See an example of their work here – Achieving Net Zero
YWU in partnership with British Youth Council
The YWU is also a partner to the British Youth Council and holds the contract with them for all youth voice work in Y&H. This funding supports a specific calendar and range of youth voice activities:
- 3 regional meetings or conventions
- An induction day for members of UK Youth Parliament and deputies
- Make your Mark vote
- Annual UKYP sitting
- House of Commons debate
- Support for national campaign
- A Y&H representative on the National Steering Group
- Monthly meetings of MYPs
here the voices of Hull MYPS here
Authoring Our Own Stories
This work is generously supported by the National Lottery Community Fun
We are pleased to announce a new, national project exploring young people’s regional identities. Authoring Our Own Stories is generously funded by National Lottery Community Fund. The work will span 5 years, be arts-based and provide an opportunity for young people to take the lead in investigating the ways their peers define their identities. Outcomes will include tools for the workforce and national data to inform the development of more relevant and accessible youth services https://www.partnershipforyounglondon.org.uk/authoringourownstories
In 2022 the YWU worked with 6 young leaders , 2 Artists and 80 + young people with SEND, to explore Civic Identity. The groups created a range of art works to share their ideas and the young leaders created a website to host it on Authoring Our Own Stories (sendyouthvoice.com) – do visit to hear their Rap, see their Aspirations and watch their film.
Our Work with the Green Mentors
What is the Green Influencers Scheme?
The mission of the Green Influencers Scheme is to assist young people to create deep, lasting and meaningful connections with the natural environment. Through this scheme young people will learn and build skills which will help them contribute to the local community through environmental action. The scheme was developed by The Ernest Cook Trust in 2019 as a match-funded project with #iwill. Both #iwill and The Ernest Cook Trust have provided £1.5million resulting in a total of £3million to be spent over 3years on youth environmental action. The Ernest Cook Trust is providing grants to registered charities and non-profit organisations across England to employ Green Mentors to help young people between the ages of 10-14 years (Green Influencers) to create environmental projects in local schools, youth groups and communities. The name Green Influencers Scheme was chosen due to the connotation of social media influence. A social media influencer has access to a large audience and can persuade others by virtue of their authenticity and reach. We would like to harness this energy and use the power of peer-to-peer education and engagement to make a real difference to our environment. Green Mentors employed through the scheme work with groups of young people to carry out environmental action projects in their communities and with other young people.
The Regional Youth Climate Assembly (RYCA), one of the projecs supported by this fund, is a group made of members across the Yorkshire & Humber region to provide a collective youth voice for young people within the climate discussion. We encourage young people living in the Y&H region to represent their local authority and to join the pool of discussion when it comes to young people’s futures.
RYCA is dedicated to striving for a better world by combating the effects of climate change. We partner with different organisations and groups from around the world to promote positive actions and practical solutions for making our world a better place. visit their website and learn more.
What is Youth Social Action?
Youth social action refers to activities that young people do to make a positive difference to others and/or the environment. These include volunteering, fundraising, campaigning or supporting peers.
- Regional campaign and youth network meetings
- Young LGBTQ+ – meets quarterly
- Children in and Leaving Care Council – meets quarterly
- Y&H youth-led social action
- Regional Transport Group
WY&H Youth Collective – works in partnership with the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health Care Partnership – meets online fortnightly alternate Wednesdays and Thursday’s evenings and in person quarterly.
Yorkshire SEND Alliance – meets online every 3rd Tuesday of the month supported by the 
South Yorkshire Mayoral Youth Combined Assembly, delivered in partnership with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority – meets online every 3rd Tuesday of the month and Quarterly in person. see their film here
Regional support meetings for Youth Voice staff
- Staff who support young LGBTQ+
- Staff who support Ci&LC Councils
- Staff who support youth-led social action
for more information contact theunit@youthworkunit.com
Please contact theunit@youthworkunit.com, if you would like any further details and see the Latest News section for updates on YV activities: