Today I am launching the recruitment for my second group of Youth Ambassadors.
I am looking for another 16 passionate and articulate young people, who are aged between 16 and 17, to champion the views of England’s children.
You can apply from anywhere in England. My current Ambassadors are based in London; Oxford; Cumbria; Bristol; Yorkshire; Norfolk; Manchester; Berkshire; York; and County Durham.
I am looking for a wide variety of people to take part in my Ambassadors programme, you just need to live in England and be 16 or 17 years old in April 2025. I particularly welcome applications from young people with lived experience of the care or health system, those with a disability or additional learning need and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. You can find out more about the role and apply below.
Over the last few months, my current Ambassadors have had the chance to talk truth to power. They have been to Parliament, spoken to politicians and ministers and have also had the opportunity to talk to the media on television, radio and online.
They have learnt about government, about politics and have shared young people’s voices about issues that one million children told me are important. Issues like the cost-of-living crisis, education, mental health, online safety, knife crime and many other subjects.
But rather than just taking my word for it, I have asked my current Ambassadors to explain what they have learnt and why it’s so exciting to volunteer to be part of the second group of Ambassadors.
Aaliya: “It’s been an incredible opportunity being an Ambassador for Dame Rachel, advocating for young people across the country, especially young people from my own community, has been a great privilege. The people I have met have been amazing as it has been a wonderful experience getting to know other like-minded people who are all working towards the same goal: advocating for young people at all levels and in all regards.”
Ben: “Being an Ambassador has been the best experience I’ve ever had. It gave me a voice so I could help the people around me and make changes that young people need. Working closely with such great and like-minded people was extremely fulfilling. It showed how much we want to change but we just didn’t know how to make it happen but that’s what being in this role did. It made it possible to make change not just for us but for other young people across England.”
Emmanuel: “Working as an Ambassador for Dame Rachel allowed me to be a champion for those that feel they can’t speak up or feel heard and enabled me to create my own individual platform where I could feel empowered and most importantly, I could be myself. While being her Ambassador, she became my mentor, biggest supporter and also a role model, as she always taught me to stand up for myself, and not be afraid to challenge the right decision or policy makers.”
Evie: “It’s been great to feel I can speak up on issues that directly impact me and so many young people across the country. Before taking on this role, I felt myself becoming increasingly disillusioned with politics, and angered at the systems that didn’t support young people, but this position has given me a seat at the table, an opportunity to reclaim some of that power and be part of real change. Crucially, working alongside others who are like-minded and passionate has given me hope for our political landscape, and young people’s role within it.”
Maximilian: “Being an Ambassador has truly been such a privilege and transformative experience. So often I’ve felt powerless about many political issues involving myself and my peers. Becoming a Youth Ambassador is a chance to be vocal about these different issues all while amplifying the voices of children and young people. For young people to make a difference and have agency in building our future, they need to be consulted with in the present.”
Maya: “It’s been amazing to witness firsthand how areas of Government work. I have spoken at an APPG and attended round tables. I have been given a voice to represent the children and young people in issues they care about. I have been able to meet likeminded people and discuss relevant subjects such as education and mental health. I am very grateful for the opportunity to share my opinions on topics that matter to my generation.”
Mehul: “Being an Ambassador has been an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing us to amplify young voices on key issues and advocate for meaningful change. Together, we’ve worked to influence policies that directly impact children and ensure their perspectives are heard at the highest levels of government, something we are all incredibly proud of.”
Penelope: “The opportunities culminated from being an Ambassador have enabled me to develop a voice personally, with greater confidence in my abilities, but also, develop a voice for young people that often feel voiceless. This position is a privilege; the ability to feel included in making a difference for the future of various young lives in decision making will help contribute further to overall positive change for the present and future young lives.”
Poppy: “As an Ambassador, I have had the privilege to represent children all over the country, attending round tables and numerous events and be part of making young people part of the conversation. I’ve learnt so much about policymaking, and all the issues young people face. Being an Ambassador enables you to feel heard and you are able to have an impact on the issues that matter to you. It is inspiring to work alongside likeminded individuals to make the changes the country needs to become an accepting, safe, and supportive environment.”
Rebecca: “In this role I’ve had the opportunity to discuss solutions on how to tackle issues that affect so many young people today. The skills I have gained from this experience such as communication and teamwork have been so incredibly valuable. It’s been so amazing to meet so many like-minded people who have such a passion for advocating for children and young people’s views.”
Rhea: “Being an Ambassador has been an amazing and enriching experience, I’ve enjoyed educating myself on prevalent issues as well as giving my input on said issues. As an Ambassador you are able to champion change, be vocal about your opinions and vouch for children across England. I have really enjoyed my experience and would recommend other young people to get involved!”
Rylie: “It has been amazing to be an Ambassador and help share the voices of young people. Being able to share my own experiences with decision makers and policymakers across roundtables and events. It’s been a a real chance to speak with the people in power to call for action and for them to start listening to young people.”
Sofia: “Being an Ambassador has been one of the most incredible experiences in my life. I have talked about the issues that children and young people face every day has given me the belief that we can change what we disagree with, and we can be heard if we stand together. I am very proud that together with the other Ambassadors we were able to influence the decisions of politicians on a variety of aspects of life that directly affect each of us.”
Sumaira: “As an Ambassador I am involved in representing the voices and interests of young people from all across the UK in policy and decision-making. My role mainly involves promoting projects and raising awareness about issues affecting the wellbeing, education, health, and safety of young people by attending roundtables/ meetings to share our experiences and ideas to ensure voices of young people are heard by policymakers. It has also allowed me to meet other young people in order to unite via a common platform to drive change for the better of all young people across the UK.”
Tamar: “Being an Ambassador is more than just attending events, it’s about representing the voiceless, specific young people like you and alike who don’t feel as though their opinions matter. You get to make sure their voices are heard.”
Zara: “Being an Ambassador has been so insightful. It is empowering to have your voice and opinions heard, especially by key figures in Government. It’s been great that we have been able to explore policy areas we are interested in, meaning we are able to choose what we are or aren’t comfortable doing, it also gives us the space to provide input on what we have enjoyed. The role has connected me with many different areas of interest and helped me develop my confidence skills.”
