Staffordshire
Youth Union
Youth Voice Matters!
Staffordshire Youth Union is a countywide youth forum made up of members from the whole of Staffordshire, and elected as Youth Representatives by their peers aged 11-18. Our activities are by young people, for young people.
What We Do
- Organise local events and campaigns supporting causes that benefit children, young people, families and local communities.
- Work alongside Staffordshire County Council and other key partners to represent the voice of local young people within planning and decision making.
- Represent Staffordshire in wider regional and national events and activities.
- Engage with local young people, groups and education settings to make sure the voice of young people is heard on the issues that affect them.
- Develop our confidence, leadership and teamworking skills to be the best advocates we can be!
We are non-partisan, which means that we don’t get involved or comment on party politics: we focus on the issues that matter to young people in Staffordshire, regardless of political views, and work together towards positive outcomes for children, young people and communities.
Aims and Objectives
- Give young people a voice and facilitate their ability to create change locally, regionally and nationally.
- Represent young people locally, regionally and nationally.
- Support the education surrounding politics for young people and encourage their involvement.
- Encourage more young people to get involved with youth social action.
- Shape and influence priority setting, service planning and delivery to ensure the views of young people have been taken into account.
Membership
We are an inclusive organisation and encourage young people from diverse ranges of backgrounds, experiences and locations to get involved. We allocate at least 4 seats for young people from each District & Borough of Staffordshire as we aim to be as representative as possible.
You don’t need any previous knowledge about democracy, issues, or politics to become a member, just a strong desire to make a difference, and the support of other young people to elect you!
Influence and Reach
We work closely alongside UK Youth Parliament, the National Youth Agency and Department for Digital, Media, Culture & Sport to create a platform for young people to make sure that decision makers understand the impact of issues on young people. We are part of a strong regional network and act collaboratively with partnerships across the Midlands, as well as coordinating with national efforts.
We base our campaigns and raise awareness based on the things that affect our lives here in Staffordshire, as well as contributing to national campaigns such as Make Your Mark and those of UK Youth Parliament. SCVYS oversees what we do, to protect safeguarding and ensure that our young people have the tools they need to enact meaningful change.
Get in touch if you have any ideas for how we can best represent young people in our county!
Applications are currently closed. If you are interested in becoming a member of Staffordshire Youth Union, please complete this form to join the waiting list.
