Opinion: Could Funding Cuts End the UK Youth Parliament? What it means for young people in North Somerset.

by Oliver Masley

Over the last week, the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) has been splashed across headlines as the Government has announced that it will no longer fund it in its current form - but what actually is the UKYP? 

“The UKYP has existed since the turn of the millennium, as a platform for young people’s democratic voice to be heard on a national scale. In its current form, it is funded by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and operated by the National Youth Agency.

The organisation enables 6.1 million young people aged 11-18 to elect a representative, or a Member of Youth Parliament, who acts as a bridge between young people’s voices and local and national changemakers, as well as holding an annual debate in the iconic House of Commons chamber.

This year was a turning point for youth voice in North Somerset, as it was given two seats at the table for the first time; however, following the government’s announcement of no longer funding UKYP, this much needed voice could very easily be lost, leaving our young people disenfranchised, and reducing local democratic participation.

Though UKYP is funded for the current year, DCMS has announced that they will no longer fund the organisation after the current grant ends in March 2027, a huge blow to youth participation and democracy, coming after the Government’s review found that UKYP was meeting its intended aims.

Furthermore, the UKYP have recently proven their value, as the Government has made the decision to reduce the voting age to 16, after years of lobbying and debating by MYPs. In spite of this, the decision was justified by the department, who argued that there is a lack of awareness of youth parliament. 

In response to the announcement, many MYPs have come together as the #saveukyp campaign on social media, calling for the Government to consider reforming or supporting UKYP to ensure that they can deliver the most effective services to young people, rather than cutting the programme entirely.

Locally, our MYPs were elected by members of the North Somerset Youth Parliament earlier this year, as the first MYPs representing the area, in a significant step forward for youth voice in North Somerset.

Although North Somerset Youth Parliament, funded by North Somerset Council, will not be directly affected by cuts, its priorities align with those of the UKYP, after the national group met in Hull at the end of August, voting for Anti-Hate Crime and Discrimination Education as their leading campaign.

Young people who were previously optimistic about this, believing that it could lead to more cross-regional collaboration and influence over hate crime legislation, are extremely disappointed.

One student at Weston College said that they were “very upset,” because it could negatively affect the area, making the town “more hateful and negative,” as young people will be less aware of their actions.

Not only is this a blow for work around hate crime, but it reduces opportunities for democratic participation for young people, takes away a platform that allows young people to engage directly with decision-makers, and increases concern over representation and political education for young people.

Future announcements are expected from the Government about youth engagement, but whether the UK Youth Parliament continues in its current form but funded by donations, is reformed, or replaced altogether, the debate has raised wider questions about how young people can influence decisions that affect their lives.

For young people in North Somerset and across the country, the discussion is likely to remain an important one with North Somerset’s MYPs, NSYP members, and Weston youth councillors in the coming months.”