The British Youth Council (BYC) and Young Advisors charity (YA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which affirmed our shared values and willingness to collaborate in providing a joined up offer of services and opportunities to young people and youth participation commissioners across the country.

BYC Chair, Liam Preston, aged 25, said:

Like our recent hosting agreement with the Young Mayors Network we are joining forces with Young Advisors to not only promote the greater influence of young people over decision- makers, but to accelerate this process by providing youth-led services and support so that more of us can be the decision-makers as well

Sean O’Halloran, aged 18, Chair of Young Advisors, added:

There are so many opportunities for youth-led voluntary sector organisations to work together in the interest of young people and their communities and we’re grasping this one with both hands because it’s imperative to ensure that young people can make themselves heard in the clamour to aspire to a bigger society.

Both of us are unusual charities in that the majority, of all of our boards of directors are aged under 25 and can genuinely claim to be independently youth-governed, as well as embedding youth influence in our design and delivery of support services.

We are pooling our expertise and experience to promote youth designed solutions and support to local and national challenges facing young people in society.

Both organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to valuing and supporting the right of young people to have a say in our society and will now work together to fulfil that goal by providing opportunities, skills and experience to young people at a local, regional and national level.