British Youth Council

Campaigns

Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 06:03


BYC campaigns are led by young people for young people and represent the main concerns of young people across the UK.

BYC thinks campaigning is a vital way for young people to make an impact on the decisions that affect our lives and how the country is run. All too often decisions on issues that matter to young people are made in office boardrooms by people in suits, which doesn't exactly reflect reality!

Our current campaigns are:

Votes at 16: BYC believes that the voting age should be lowered to 16 so all 16 and 17 years can vote in all public elections. To celebrate our 60th year BYC is championing a '16 at 60' campaign to really push for 16 and 17 year olds to be given the right to vote. For more information click here

Equal National Minimum Wage: BYC is calling for equal pay for equal work for everyone aged over 16 across the UK. For more information click here

Education campaign: The Government is planning to raise the participation age for education and training to 18 through the Education and Skills Bill currently going through Parliament. BYC has voiced fears about the compulsion element within the Bill as young people could end up having to pay penalty fines, and even getting a criminal record for not paying these fines, if they slip through the net and don't participate in education or training until they are 18. That is why BYC is telling politicians 'Don't Force Us, Inspire Us' on education. For more information click here

Respect?: BYC campaigns with the online charity YouthNet to challenge the negative stereotyping of young people in the media and British society today. For more information click here

Climate Change: BYC calls for the Climate Change Bill to be strengthened. For more information click here

Love.Europe.Right: BYC’s international Love.Europe.Right project is bringing together young people from the UK and Poland to explore Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transsexual rights and European Citizenship. BYC is calling for “Rights without Borders” so LGBT rights are protected, respected and promoted throughout the European Union, regardless of nationality.

More information about BYC’s campaigns contact BYC’s Policy and Press Officer Helen Deakin

Latest Press Releases

BYC: Votes at 16 demo, Trafalgar Square to Downing street. Monday 24 November

On Monday 24 November, a delegation of over 50 young people from the British Youth Council (BYC) will march from Trafalgar Square to 10 Downing Street calling for the voting age to be lowered to 16.

BYC: Let’s get positive: BYC celebrate youth

On Monday 24 November the British Youth Council is holding a special anniversary event to celebrate 60 years of campaigning, empowering and inspiring young people.

BYC: Young people deliver 1800 letters to chair of the low pay commission

Yesterday young volunteers from the British Youth Council, Scott Forbes (19) and Robel Yemane (18) met with Sir George Bain, Chair of the Low Pay Commission in Westminster to deliver 1800 letters from young people calling for an equal National Minimum Wage.

British Youth Council supports new Early Day Motion on Votes at 16

BYC has voiced its support for a new Early Day Motion (EDM) calling for the House of Commons to lower the voting age for all public elections in the British Mainland to 16.