BYC gives disengaged youth a voice in Parliament

Yesterday the British Youth Council (BYC) gave 100 disengaged young people from across the United Kingdom, who are not in education, employment or training, a chance to engage with politicians as part of its ‘Young People and Your Democracy’ event which is funded by the Electoral Commission.

The all day event, part of the Inform and Influence programme, was designed to give young people who are not registered to vote a chance to visit the UK Parliament and meet with their Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss the issues that affect them on a day to day basis, to connect with democratic processes and get their voices heard.

BYC claim the event has achieved its goal as 95% of those who attended said they were now more likely to vote in the next general election.

BYC Trustee Rajay Naik said: “The British Youth Council is delighted at the success of its event yesterday. The young people all took the chance to talk to their MP about issues which mattered most to them.

“What came across most from the day was the passion that some of the young people had, it showed that young people are interested in politics, they just need a way to show it.”

The event culminated with a panel debate with representatives from the three main political parties. Young people expressed their concerns about the representation of young people in the media, the need for the voting age to be lowered to 16, the discrimination of the national minimum wage on the basis of age and affordable housing.

The next part of the Inform and Influence programme will involve similar events at the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament in October.



1. The Panel debate featured: Bridget Prentice MP – Labour Party; Jo Swinson MP – Liberal Democrat Party; Mark Harper MP – Conservative Party.

2. BYC’s Inform and Influence programme is funded by the Electoral Commission (the organisation responsible for promoting getting people registered to vote) and aims to increase the number of young people registering and voting in elections.

3. BYC’s Inform and Influence programme aims to:
• Increase young people’s confidence so they will take part in all aspects of political decision-making
• Increase young people’s awareness of how local, national and European democracy is organised and how decisions are made
• Increase the number of young people who register to vote and the likelihood that they will vote
• Increase young people’s opportunities to work with people who make decisions
• Increase young people’s feeling that the political system is relevant to their lives
• Increase the likelihood of young people becoming involved in other forms of political activism

4. BYC is the national youth council and voice for young people under 26 living in the UK. We represent and involve a unique coalition of young people through their involvement as individuals or through national, regional or local youth organisations.

5. BYC’s coalition includes over 170 youth organisations such as Girlguiding UK, campaigning organisations such as the National Union of Students (NUS) and youth wings of trade unions, political parties, faith and arts organisations. Also within our membership and network are 400 local youth councils and organisations representing specific groups such as lesbian, gay and bisexual and black and minority ethnic young people.

6. BYC works to ensure that young people are involved at every level of decision-making to allow them to be represented and to make their voices heard.

7. We aim to do four things: Provide a voice for young people; Promote equality for young people; Help young people be more involved in decisions that affect their lives; Advance young people’s participation in society and civil life.