Voices for Impact

Youth organisations from across the UK and Ireland have joined forces better to understand children’s and young people’s views through the Voices for Impact project. Our initiative focuses on effectively capturing and amplifying their voices, ensuring their insights shape the policies that affect them.

By capturing and and amplifying , we strive to advocate for increased investment in youth services, ensuring that young people’s voices are not just heard but are central to decision-making. This approach underscores young people’s proactive role as active and influential members of society.

This partnership is a collective approach between YMCA Ireland, Boys & Girls Clubs NI, Youth Initiatives,  National Youth Council of Ireland, YouthLink Scotland, Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services and Bytes.

The Voices for Impact platform is designed to embody the principles of the Lundy Participation Model, providing an inclusive approach to capturing the voices of children & young people in UK and Ireland.

How Are We Capturing Children and Young People’s Voices

Our website is a dedicated space, accessible to young people across UK and Ireland as well as those who are involved in youth work within the region.

 

Engaging Individual Children and Young People

We recognise the importance of every young person’s voice, regardless of their affiliation with any youth association. Through this platform, young people are given the opportunity to express their opinions and share their experiences.

 

Facilitating Youth Work Activity

For youth workers, this site offers a robust tool to enhance youth participation. The surveys and interactive features on the site serve as a foundation for fostering a more engaged and empowered youth community.

Youth workers can utilise this data to spark meaningful discussions among young people about the trends and insights revealed within their local council areas. This approach not only gives young people a voice but also an audience, promoting a culture of active engagement and motivating them to take action based on the insights derived from the data.

Image showing five young people gathered round a computer screen.

What Do We Capture?

Children and Young People in UK and Ireland will have the opportunity to share their views in relation to these six themes that are derived from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations.

By capturing these insights, we are able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the priorities and concerns of young people in these vital areas. This approach allows us to tailor our efforts and resources more effectively to address the specific challenges and aspirations that the children and young in UK and Ireland face.

A group of children gathered in a classroom, sitting on the floor in a semi-circle smiling at the camera.

The Voices for Impact platform serves as a dynamic hub, uniting youth organisations and individual young people from across the United Kingdom and Ireland in one easily accessible online space.
Voices for Impact is funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
In partnership with Boys and Girls Club, Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services, National Youth Council of Ireland, YMCA Ireland, Youth Initiatives, Youth Link Scotland