What youth organisations want to see from the National Youth Strategy

This year, the government has promised to deliver a new, 10-year National Youth Strategy. Its ambition is to tackle the challenges that young people face and to make sure that every young person can thrive.

The National Youth Strategy aims to bring power back to young people and their communities, and to improve youth-focused services, moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach.

This is an opportunity to make sure the government knows what the genuine concerns, hopes and ambitions are for young people. We know policy works best when the people most affected have a hand in shaping it.

At Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we work with so many organisations who support young people to lead the change they want to see, so that future generations of young people can thrive. This felt like an important moment to ask them directly: what do you want to see in the National Youth Strategy?

We’re very grateful to three of the fantastic organisations we support – Gendered Intelligence, Youth Access and Reaching Higher – for sharing their reflections with us. Below, you can see what they would like to see from the National Youth Strategy.

Gendered Intelligence is a trans-led and trans-involving charity that works to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans people.

At Gendered Intelligence we are supporting more and more young people experiencing serious mental health issues. This is having a long-term impact on health and opportunities for young people.

Youth Access is the national membership body that represents and champions organisations delivering support for young people. They are the voice of the youth advice and counselling sector, and they support young people to campaign for services and systems that meet their needs and fulfil their rights.

Sarah Uncles, Policy & Campaigns Manager for Youth Access, shares her thoughts on the forthcoming strategy.

“Youth Access wants to see a Youth Strategy that truly recognises and responds to the unique challenges that young people face on their journey into adulthood.”

“Historic increases in the cost of living and the aftermath of a global pandemic have created difficult terrain for young people. Entrenched inequalities also mean that for some the climb is even steeper. At the same time, long waiting lists for mental health support and cuts to youth services have left many young people alone and unable to find their footing.”

“We believe the Youth Strategy will hear the same. But this government must go beyond listening. We understand the challenges, and we have the solutions. It is time to act on what young people say.”

Reaching Higher is a leadership development organisation that empowers people to reach higher personally and professionally. 

Jordan Ignatius, Managing Director of Reaching Higher tells us what he hopes to see in the new National Youth Strategy.

“It’s why contextual safeguarding cannot be separated from youth work. When done well, youth work doesn’t just support young people, it safeguards them within the very contexts they’re growing up in.”

“Over the years, this integrated approach has enabled us to develop high-quality contextual youth work that reflects the real-life complexities young people face. It’s a model that builds trust, fosters safety, and empowers young people to thrive – not in spite of their environments, but within them.”

Across these responses, several themes came through – supporting young people to thrive is about more than just service delivery. It’s about meeting young people where they are – whether it’s a certain stage in their lives, the places they live, work and study, or online. But most of all, it’s about tackling the wider inequalities and injustice at the root of the challenges young people face. 

The National Youth Strategy is expected to come out in summer 2025. Working together with the #will movement, My Life My Say and Savanta, the Government is running a Deliver You campaign. They want to hear from young people 10–21 (aged 25 with SEND) across England to inform the strategy.