Youth voices at the heart of change

Communities are shaped by many different stakeholder groups, but one group that is often overlooked is young people. This group have the passion, interest, and motivation to be environmental advocates – but only if we know how to meaningfully engage them in processes. To unlock this potential, engagement should be clear, accessible, and innovative.

Read our latest blog on accessible language

This month, the EU-UK ‘Voices of the North’ Youth Dialogue event took place in Newcastle, bringing together young people, policymakers, and community leaders to explore the future of youth voices, mobility, identity, inclusion, and political participation in the UK and across Europe. We sat down to discuss the highlights of the event with Rory Chapman, Scottish Delegate for the Youth Advisory Committee and Scottish Delegate for the European Union Delegation to the UK’s Youth Advisory Committee.

Young people on the margins of decision-making

A dominant theme in workshops and panels across the two-day event was that young people remain on the periphery of political decision-making. Too often, institutions consult youth symbolically rather than involve them in ways that are inherently meaningful. Participants called for:

Young people to be in decision-making rooms, not just referenced in policy papers
Authentic opportunities for youth to influence policies affecting their lives
Recognition that all lived experiences are unique and should be valued, not tokenised

Stakeholders must shift from “youth voice as consultation” to “youth voice as co-creation.”

Have a look at our blog post on co-creation

Listen to rural voices and consider the language they prefer

Young people highlighted how rural communities feel frequently mislabelled as “remote,” a term that implies isolation. This language shapes policy in ways that overlook rural strengths and needs by unintentionally marginalising rural people and framing them as disconnected.

The event stressed the importance of:

Positioning rural young people as central to policy design, not an afterthought
Recognising that the lack of access to services, mobility, and jobs impacts rural youth disproportionately
Ensuring representation goes beyond major cities or university-based youth experiences

Being rural does not mean people are completely disconnected, and by using “rural” over “remote”, we provide a more inclusive narrative.

Youth mobility: ambition required

Participants reflected on the UK Government’s ambition to rebuild youth mobility programmes such as Erasmus+. In simple terms, youth mobility schemes allow young people to live, work, and study abroad. The ambition of youth mobility is welcomed by young people, who also stressed the need for greater urgency and fairness.

Any future mobility programme must:

Be accessible to all, including disadvantaged and underrepresented groups
Remove financial, social, and geographical barriers
Reflect the diversity of young people across the UK

Mobility opportunities should not be limited to those with social capital, university pathways, or city-based networks. The truly ambitious scheme that young people strive for has equity at its core.

What matters most to young people in Scotland right now:

1. Jobs and skills

Inequity of opportunity was a key concern. With increasing pressure on the job market and the number of workforce jobs being much higher in London, many Scottish young people feel forced to move to England to build a career. In a wider context, this highlights the ongoing discussions about fair access to quality jobs across the UK.

2. Climate and environmental action

Young people want firm action on climate change, not just rhetoric. With the climate emergency becoming ever more pressing, young people feel that their generation will feel the worst impacts of climate change – and without the government choosing action over rhetoric, young people question how we can make a meaningful difference.

Disenfranchisement with the norms of environmental politics resonated with young people who expressed concerns that youth voices remain at the margins of environmental policy due to older generations, particularly with more political capital, not legitimising the seriousness of climate-based issues.

One thing remains clear: environmental policy remains a top concern for this generation.

3. European identity and connection

Many young people in Scotland feel uncertainty around their European identity post-Brexit and are keen to see strengthened cultural and educational links. This would contribute to creating stronger cross-border relationships and bring subsequent educational, social, and employment opportunities and innovation.

4. Mobility and Erasmus+

Fair access to international exchange, learning, and volunteering opportunities remains a high priority. Specifically, young people are keen to have access to a youth mobility programme that gives them the opportunity to gain personal, socio-educational, and professional development competencies through studying, working, or training abroad.

5. Inclusion must mean access

Participants stressed that inclusion is not just about diversity – it is about access and equity. Young people with disabilities, those from low-income backgrounds, and those outside mainstream education routes are often left out of the political process that strives for progress and change.

Consideration to inclusion should be given to young people from these and any other marginalised backgrounds, as they often do not have access to the networks that exist to ignite and drive change. Subsequently, enhancing accessibility, inclusive communication, and intentional representation must become standard practice. This is how we strengthen young people’s place as political, social, and environmental advocates.

Reaching and engaging young people

To engage young people meaningfully, outreach must extend beyond traditional networks. Suggestions included:

Working with local community groups – youth clubs, churches, community councils, and other grassroots organisations
Engaging with young people in all areas of work and education, including apprenticeships, colleges, universities, and technical and vocational training
Meeting young people where they are, often on social media, rather than expecting them to come to policymakers

Digital futures: AI and online safety

While AI can be a support mechanism to aid the professional growth of young people and strengthen their learning and development, they question the ethics of its application in some contexts and proceed with apprehension.

Particularly, there was notable scepticism about online safety. Young people highlighted the need for clear regulation, transparency, and stronger protections online in the sphere of AI’s continual growth.

Despite their noted scepticism, the picture remains optimistic for young people; they recognise the potential that AI can bring but know that this potential must align with ethical considerations.

Looking Forward

Our discussion with Rory highlighted a clear message: young people are ready to shape their future – but they need meaningful access, representation, and influence to do so.

The event underscored that young people are informed, passionate, and ready to lead change. For the UK to build a fair and forward-looking society, young people must not only be heard – but they must also be involved at every step.

To consider how young people can become advocates in the decision-making process in more detail, watch our webinar on Youth Action: Stories, Skills and Solidarity.

Watch the webinar