The Youth Council UK is a national platform for youth empowerment and representation, enabling young people to contribute to policy discussions at home and abroad which impact on their lives.
Become a member of Youth Council UK today!
If your organisation is passionate about supporting young people to shape national and international decision-making, then become a member today and be a part of this exciting new chapter.
What membership means
Joining Youth Council UK is a commitment to strengthening a unified youth voice.
Member organisations:
- Can nominate young people to stand for election to the YCUK Executive Board (next elections due in 2028)
- Shape the priorities and campaigns YCUK pursues
- Gain profile and visibility through national platforms and activity
- Access shared learning and resources
- Become part of a collective voice that amplifies youth‑led change
- Membership is designed to be inclusive, so organisations of all sizes can take part on a fair and accessible basis.
Who are our members
Our membership can include:
- national and local youth organisations
- youth wings of political parties
- any committee, network or body where young people have decision-making or policy-making power
- youth participation bodies aligned with government at any level – for example, a youth council, youth parliament or youth forum
- youth support bodies or corporates – for example, a youth work unit, an organisation with an interest in youth or youth work, or a ‘for youth’ organisation looking to engage young people in their policy development
Membership Fees (Effective from 1st Ebrill 2026)
There will be three categories of membership fees, corresponding to the size and type of organisation. An initial joining fee of £50 will apply, with full rates effective from 1st Ebrill 2026.
- Small Organisation – £100
For local or community organisations or groups with fewer than 10,000 young participants, members, or reach. This includes parish and district councils, ward-level groups, and local branches of larger organisations. It also covers small youth organisations without formal participation structures and small local support bodies (non-voting).
- Medium Organisation – £500
For medium-sized organisations or groups with between 10,000 and 150,000 young participants, members, or reach. This includes top-tier local authorities, overseas or crown dependency bodies, and regional support organisations. It also applies to medium-sized national organisations without formal youth participation structures (non-voting).
- Large Organisation – £1,500
For large organisations or groups with more than 150,000 young participants, members, or reach. This includes devolved nations and UK-wide participation structures. It also includes England-wide or UK-wide support bodies, corporate partners, and large organisations without formal youth participation structures (non-voting).
Important update:
Previously, BYC’s membership fees ranged from £75 to £1,245. We have amended these fees in line with today’s current climate. No organisation should be paying significantly more than under previous fee structures in fact, most organisations will pay less based on our compare and contrast analysis of previous BYC fees.
Our goal is to address and remove barriers so that every young person and organisation supporting them can take part meaningfully in the Youth Council UK.
No organisation should be excluded due to financial constraints. We recognise that circumstances vary, and we are committed to finding solutions that enable full participation of young people across all settings.
Where needed, special arrangements can be made on a case-by-case basis to keep participation accessible and fair. This may include alternative payment approaches or support to help organisations stay engaged in Youth Council UK activities. To ensure that no organisation experiences financial difficulty in joining or renewing because of the fees, please contact NYA at ycuk@nya.org.uk so that we can arrange support or a transition plan.
We are committed to:
- Championing accessibility
- Finding solutions to financial barriers
- Increasing greater affordability
- Maintaining equity across the sector
