Blagrave Trust Young People in Policymaking fund
Year Two learning report – Summary article
Date: February 2025
Prepared by: Common Futures
Prepared for: Final design and publication
Young People in Policymaking: Key learnings from Year Two
In 2022, Blagrave Trust launched the Young People in Policymaking fund to support organisations working with young people (aged 16-25) who have experienced social injustice. The fund aimed to empower young people to shape policy decisions affecting their lives rather than being passive recipients. In its second year, ten funded organisations continued to develop and refine their approaches, with a stronger emphasis on representing young people’s perspectives in policymaking spaces.
Policy issues and adapting to change
Year Two saw a clearer distinction between organisations aligning their policy work with broader advocacy priorities and those focusing on topics chosen by young people. Some groups pursued issues that linked to national or sector-wide campaigns, while others tailored their campaigns to more localised concerns.
The 2024 snap General Election created both challenges and opportunities. Pre-election uncertainty, restrictions during the purdah period, and post-election shifts in political relationships disrupted some advocacy efforts. However, many organisations used the election as a platform to amplify their campaigns, build new relationships, and refine their policy asks.
Unexpected external events also shaped priorities. The far-right riots in summer 2024 led to a shift in focus on community support for some, and prompted others to explore the rise of right-wing ideology and its impact on young people.
Influencing approaches
Across the cohort, organisations engaged with a wide range of policymakers, from MPs and local authorities to sector-specific bodies such as schools and health services. Some adopted a dual strategy, influencing both local and national policy.
Organisations used multiple approaches to influence policy, including:
- Leveraging existing relationships between policymakers and staff members, to broker discussions with young people.
- Mobilising young people as advocates, encouraging them to write to MPs and participate in direct action.
- Showcasing young people’s priorities in sector forums, conferences, and networking events.
A key discussion among partners was the balance between youth-led and youth-informed approaches. Some organisations are reconsidering fully youth-led governance and operational structures, recognising that while young people should set the agenda, they may need adult support to convert this to strategy and execution.
Youth engagement and impact
Engaging young people in meaningful ways remains central. Many organisations employed creative methods—such as games, trips, and co-created campaign materials—to keep young people involved. While policy change was the overarching goal, many partners recognised the value of the process itself in building young people’s skills and confidence, empowering them as future changemakers.
Communications and advocacy tactics
Year Two saw a stronger focus on storytelling to highlight young people’s experiences. However, partners noted a tension between creating content that showcases young people’s self-expression, content which resonates with policymakers, and materials to engage grassroots supporters. Understanding different audiences and tailoring messages accordingly is crucial. Some organisations are exploring ways of integrating storytelling with data to maximise credibility and impact.
Partnerships and alliances
Many organisations expanded their impact through partnerships, whether forming project-specific collaborations or leveraging long-term alliances. These partnerships help amplify young people’s voices and improve sector-wide practice.
Common challenges and constraints
Many of the challenges reflect those discussed in Year One of the programme as well as trends in the wider youth sector.
- Many organisations struggled with limited resources and expertise to translate youth engagement into effective policy work. Recruitment challenges persisted from Year One, with youth workers often unfamiliar with policy processes and policy staff lacking youth work experience. Staffing churn also disrupted relationships with young people and policymakers.
- Sustaining youth engagement over long-term projects remained challenging. Organisations found that celebrating small wins and providing opportunities for direct action (such as protests) helped maintain motivation.
- Pre-election political uncertainty made securing commitments difficult, while post-election shifts required adaptation to new government priorities.
- Internally, changes in leadership and strategy within organisations also affected team morale and continuity. Maintaining core values during transitions was key to stability.
- Balancing policy work with community needs was challenging for some organisations, when a strict focus on policy impact conflicted with responding to immediate community concerns, especially for minoritised groups.
Looking ahead to Year Three
As the programme enters its third year, partners are planning for project legacy and considering how to embed their work into their organisations for lasting impact. Key priorities include maintaining relationships with policymakers and sector alliances, but funding uncertainty makes defining long-term ambitions difficult. The learning programme will continue to capture insights through action learning methods, with additional storytelling and communications support to reflect the completion of the projects and showcase successes.