This year’s party conferences provided a key opportunity to discuss policy priorities in the youth sector, particularly in advance of the publication of the National Youth Strategy in autumn and Labour’s recently announced Youth Guarantee.
The NYA was pleased to host events at the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative conferences, bringing young voices to the table to discuss the importance of youth work and what they want to see for its future.
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The NYA welcomes the policy commitments made by the Liberal Democrat party at their conference in Bournemouth, which back long-term funding for youth work, a workforce strategy as well as sufficient resources to allow local authorities to fulfil their statutory duty to provide a youth offer.
The NYA hosted a joint reception with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) on ‘Enrichment through youth work: A celebration of hope and action’. This reception successfully showcased the importance of youth work and enrichment for young people’s development and highlighted a need to rebuild and reinvest in youth services.
Lucy, DofE Youth Ambassador, gave a powerful speech championing the positive impact her DofE experience had on her life following a prolonged period of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent loss of her father.
Munira Wilson MP and Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, Children and Families, spoke of the importance of youth work, particularly as a preventative measure. Max Wilkinson MP, previous spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, and Steff Aquarone MP, also spoke of their positive experiences of DofE and other enrichment programmes.
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The NYA hosted a panel discussion at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, which centred around bridging the gaps between national ambition and local action.
The panel, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield CBE, explored how to marry key national policy priorities, particularly ahead of the much-anticipated publication of the National Youth Strategy, with local youth work to ensure the best possible outcomes for young people.
Ivan, NYA Youth Consultant, shared his experience of youth work and its role in providing him with a safe space to meet peers outside of the classroom. Furthermore, Ivan drew on his experience as a peer assessor of youth services, sharing his knowledge of local system needs.
Natasha Irons MP, chair of the APPG on Youth Affairs, spoke of the importance of embedding youth work within the upcoming National Youth Strategy and the need for cross-government collaboration. Councillor Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care at Liverpool City Council, reflected on the Local Youth Transformation Programme pilot in the city, as an important step in rebuilding youth work capacity.
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The NYA hosted a private roundtable event at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on ‘Reimagining youth work policy: A bold vision for national renewal’. This event was chaired by Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, and attended by over 20 participants including MPs, local councillors and colleagues from within the youth sector.
Ben and Arthur spoke in their capacity as NYA youth consultants, sharing their experiences of youth work and the importance of championing young people’s voices in decision-making spaces. Ben spoke eloquently of his lived experience of care-specific youth work and the positive impact this has had on at important moments in his life, and Arthur contributed his knowledge as a passionate advocate for children’s rights.
Nigel Huddleston MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, shared his view that youth issues should be a priority across government departments.
Overall, this discussion highlighted the need for cross-government and cross-party collaboration to centre youth affairs and ensure that the importance of youth work is reflected in national policy.
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