Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps is the government taking to create a national youth forum to consult young people on policies that affect them, giving them powers to challenge policies that will affect their interests.

DCMS is taking a number of steps to ensure there are a variety of national forums through which young people are consulted and involved in decisions that affect them. Too many young people feel that their voice does not matter and this needs to change. The ‘Seen and Heard’ chapter of Youth Matters sets out our ambitions to put young people in the driving seat and give them more opportunities to influence policy locally, regionally and nationally. Some examples are as follows:

Firstly, the department is creating a new ‘Youth Policy Network’ to ensure that whichever part of the government is making decisions, if they affect young people, a diverse range of young people can take part.

Secondly, the department continues to work closely with a Youth Advisory Group on the delivery of Youth Matters, and previous members play a key role as ambassadors.

Thirdly, to hold the government accountable, the department will invite a diverse group of young people to run an annual national hearing on the Strategy's delivery.

Alongside this, DCMS youth funding programmes are required to be co-designed with young people. We are also working closely with young people and partners to co-design our approach to youth participation in democracy and decision-making. Outcomes of this engagement with young people will be shared in the Autumn.