The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has today (21 May) announced that the NYA will oversee the running of the UKYP until March 2025.
The British Youth Council (BYC) announced its closure in March citing “ongoing financial challenges”.
The organisation had overseen the running of the UKYP for more than a decade, winning a final £750,000 contract from government in March last year to run the youth parliament for two years.
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It has not been announced how much funding the NYA has received for its new role.
NYA will work with existing delivery partners, the regional youth work units in England, the Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Wales, and consultants in Northern Ireland, to run the UKYP, according to DCMS.
Leigh Middleton, NYA chief executive, said: “Ensuring that young people have a voice on the issues that matter to them and being able to influence decision makers is a fundamental principle of youth work.
“We have moved swiftly to ensure that the necessary platforms are in place so that the Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPS) can meet throughout the year, alongside the support provided by the devolved country partners, local authorities and regional youth work units.”
Ellie Bealing, MYP for Somerset, added: “The NYA’s appointment secures youth voice across the UK, at a time in which its need is great. As MYPs, our work can continue with the knowledge of national recognition and the opportunity to unite as committed young people.
“Youth Parliament has proven that it is vital to allow our generation to speak of the issues that motivate us, empowering others and gaining the attention of changemakers.”
Established 25 years ago, the UKYP is made up of more than 300 young people aged between 11 and 18 years, elected as MYPs to represent the views of their peers.
Young people vote for their MYPs in elections every two years, which are held in over 70% of constituencies, and often in schools.
