The event aimed to inform and inspire parliamentarians as the government develops its Young Futures hubs programme, which closely aligns with the services that many existing hubs like our members provide young people.
It was essential and exciting to bring the voices and experiences of our members and young people to parliament for a deep dive into hubs and our collective Blueprint roadmap.
Parliamentarians arrived to a sea of banners and a selection of impassioned speeches from Cassandra Harrison (Youth Access CEO), Natasha Irons MP (event host), and Grace and Warith who shared their experiences as young people. We also gave them a sneak preview of a video we will be releasing soon, showcasing members and young people up and down the country.
Following the speeches, parliamentarians were swept up in engaging activities created by Grace, Kai and Warith, where attendees shared their hopes for service provision in their constituency, followed by stories and insights from our members Croydon Drop-In, MAP, No Limits and YPAS. The community's passion was palpable and it was impossible not to be driven to action.
"It was great to have the opportunity to share ideas and aspirations for hubs in a space dedicated to just that. It’s important that service providers and young people can come together with decision makers and can continue coming together to push for change. I hope after the success of this event momentum will only increase."
- Grace, Young Person's Advisory Service (YPAS) Peer Researcher
Attendees also spoke with policy experts (and co-organisers) from Youth Access, the Centre for Mental Health, CYPMHC, Luke Billingham (Researcher at the Open University and Youth Worker) and the National Youth Agency to learn more about our collective Blueprint for Young Futures hubs, a policy roadmap designed to support the design and development of hubs.
After a motivating visit, parliamentarians were eager to have their photo taken and support our pledge that 'every young person should have access to support in their local community.'
"I’m incredibly grateful to my fellow youth representatives, No Limits, Youth Access, and all the organisations involved for their unwavering support and for making this opportunity possible. Everyone brought their passion to the table, and it truly showed. Members of Parliament, the House of Lords, and their teams were fully engaged with our initiatives and gave us their time, energy, and encouragement. Many pledged their support for the Fund the Hubs initiative—an exciting step toward a better future for youth services and the young people who depend on them across the UK."
- Warith, No Limits Young Ambassador
The event was organised in collaboration with the Centre for Mental Health, CYPMHC, Luke Billingham (Researcher at the Open University and Youth Worker) and the National Youth Agency, and hosted by Natasha Irons MP.
