British Youth Council

Beginnings

The British Youth Council was established by the Foreign Office of the British Government in preparation for the first World Assembly of Youth. Its original aim was to unite young people in Britain against the forces of communism just after World War II.

The Sixties

In 1963, the Council gained independence from the British Government and became a UK charity championing the opinions of young people.

From the late 1960s, the Council expanded its work in connecting youth councils across the UK – a move championed by then staff member John Denham, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The Seventies

In 1971, BYC organised the annual World Assembly of Youth event in Manchester where Prime Minister Edward Heath was the keynote speaker.

In the late 1970s, the organisation elected David Hunt as chair (now member of the House of Lords) as well as Janet Paraskeva (now First Civil Service Commissioner) and Peter Mandelson.

BYC published the "Youth Unemployment: Cause and Cures" report. They also attended the 11th World Festival on Youth in Cuba where motions were passed on the human rights records of the USSR and USA. Delegates include Trevor Phillips, Paul Boateng and Charles Clarke MP.

The Eighties

In 1987 BYC Scotland closed due to funding cuts by the Government. The British Youth Council also had its Foreign Office grant withdrawn due to the changes in international relations. However, the Council continued topromote local youth councils and was involved in the UK's signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Nineties

In the 1990s BYC worked with partners in campaigns to get young people registered to vote and on issues of young people's employment. They also worked in the field in youth policy and research, producing a number of journals and publications.

Notable publications during this decade include ‘Never Had it So Good: The Truth about being young in nineties Britain’ (1996), and the 1998 report ‘State of the Young Nation’, which asked 1000 young people about their participation in society and their understanding of political processes.

Continuing increase in BYC’s research, consultation and policy work culminated in 2000 with the biggest consultation with young people that the Government had ever commissioned on areas such as education, employment and young people having their say. The conclusion, 'Listening to the Unheard', led the formulation of the European White Paper on Youth which BYC co-ordinated as the UK members of the European Youth Forum.

Today

The organisation celebrated its 60th birthday in 2008 by engaging ten young people to make a documentary film about British youth culture over the last 60 years; in particular, how young people have been able to influence society and democracy.^[1]

Vision

The British Youth Council’s vision is that all young people are respected, and able to influence and inform decisions which affect their lives or upon which they have strong opinions.^[2]

Values

The British Youth Council’s four values are recognition, equality, diversity and participation.^[2]

Consortia

The British Youth Council now manages Participation Works – a group of national charities working to ensure that every child and young person can influence decisions affecting their lives. They are working with the Children's Rights Alliance for England, The National Youth Agency, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, Save the Children (England) and formerly the National Children's Bureau.

The Council is a founding member of the UK Votes at 16 Coalition. The coalition consist of various organisations and political parties and is led by Children's Rights Alliance for England, the National Union of Students and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Prior to the 2015 General Election, the Council became a founding member of the UK branch of the League of Young Voters The League's steering group consists of Scottish Youth Parliament, Northern Ireland Youth Forum, Bite The Ballot and the National Union of Students. ^[6]

The Council provides a range of training courses, many funded under schemes like Youth at the Table ^[7]

International

Since it began, the Council has been involved in international work which aims to develop awareness of international issues and action, and to represent the UK at international events^[8]

The British Youth Council works closely with the British Council to promote participation overseas. It is a member of the European Youth Forum and Commonwealth Youth Exchange Programme and cooperates with other National Youth Councils in European through the BBCplus cooperation of National Youth Council's in Europe.