Young Voices Reach the Heart of Government
Last week, the Hope Collective Youth Management Group were welcomed to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to share valuable data and insights gathered from 38 Hope Hack's held across the UK. So far, over 4,000 young people nationwide have taken part in these group sessions, that's 4,000 young voices captured, including those from a session held in Manchester in 2024. Leo, one of our dedicated Navigator Youth Workers came to represent Oasis at this meeting, championing the voices of the young people we work with every day.
Amplifying Young Voices
The Hope Collective brings together grassroots, and national organisations as well as local leaders to create space for young people to share their experiences and shape solutions to the issues they face, with a particular focus on poverty and inequality. Their input will directly inform the government's new National Youth Strategy.
Founded in partnership with the Damilola Taylor Trust and other public and voluntary bodies, the Hope Collective aims to create real change through meaningful engagement and collaborative action.
The Hope Hack team visiting the DCMS included police officers, violence reduction specialists, and youth workers- many with lived experience- from cities across the UK. Together they demonstrated how collaborative partnerships can amplify the voices of young people who are too often left out of important decisions affecting their futures.
Kayleigh Wainwright, Head of Youth Strategy Engagement at the DCMS, emphasised the importance of this work:
"Opening up the doors of where policy is made and created is an important part of the engagement process. Starting the conversation with young people and hearing their truth not only allows for better policy making but also breaks down barriers and builds trust between traditionally undeserved communities and decision makers."
Oasis in Action
During the meeting, Leo shared his journey from growing up in Manchester to becoming a youth worker with Oasis. He also introduced our Oasis Youth Encounter project, which brings Non Violent Resistance (NVR) into schools as a supportive alternative to punitive behaviour systems.
"The Hope Collective's work is already creating real change for young people, giving them a platform and a voice, something that I'm really proud to be a part of," Leo reflected.
He added, "When young people are given genuine platforms to speak from, they come up with solutions that adults might never think of."
Looking Ahead
This meeting marked another step in a growing partnership between Oasis, the Hope Collective and national policymakers, creating a promising opportunity for youth-centred policies that really reflect the experience and needs of young people across the UK.
Hope Hacks are giving thousands of young people a vital voice in shaping their futures. By bringing these insights directly to policymakers, we're ensuring the National Youth Strategy reflects real experiences and collective hope.
We're excited to continue working alongside the Hope Collective and projecting the voices of young people within our communities.
