BYC calls for dedicated youth minister

Members of the BYC want the next government to create a minister for young people with sole responsibility for issues affecting children and young people.

As part of the campaign, BYC will also call for the introduction of young peers, no older than 25 years old, to sit in the House of Lords and represent the views of young people.

At present, minister for civil society Brooks Newmark, a Cabinet Office minister, is responsible for youth policy.

Until July 2013, the portfolio sat within the Department for Education and was the responsibility of the Education Secretary.

The Scout Association put the campaign forward during BYC’s annual council meeting in Sheffield last week, which was attended by 35 member organisations.

The Scout Association claimed that the average age of politicians is 50, with the views of young people often overlooked as a result. It urged BYC to take on the campaign as part of efforts to help young people influence local and national government policies.

James Cathcart, chief executive of BYC, confirmed that the campaign will form part of BYC’s 2014/15 manifesto.

Dom Weinberg, policy manager at the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, has backed the campaign.

He said: “We have long argued for an holistic, cross-governmental youth policy, backed by a youth strategy set for the life of parliament, with an annual report detailing progress against targets.

“A minister, accountable to cabinet, should be responsible for this and for ensuring that all legislation is scrutinised by young people and youth-proofed.

“We need such accountability at the highest level because young people are currently suffering from reduced investment, and yet we know that investment in young people pays.”

Similarly, Fiona Blacke, chief executive of the National Youth Agency, said issues affecting children and young people need to be made the sole responsibility of a dedicated minister.

She said: “Young people will always need a government that is on their side, but right now there is a plethora of cross-departmental issues that would really benefit from falling under one minister to champion.

“To be effective, policy has to be joined up – a dedicated minister would provide this oversight and help ensure that government initiatives are working to the same ends and maximising resources.

“Based at the DfE or the Cabinet Office, the role would also need equal influence in the Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Justice and the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation to work effectively.”