Intention – why was it created?

The Youth Board was created to ensure that, as an organisation, we are continuing to put youth voice at the centre of our organisation, ensuring that strategic and operational decisions we are wanting to make are consulted with young people who have taken part in Unloc programmes. In addition, we invest in young people’s changemaker journeys and so offer this as a unique opportunity for young people in the Unloc Community to continue their Changemaker Journey and have their voice heard at decision maker level.

Implementation – what activity has taken place over the year?

Over the past academic year, the youth board have met digitally every 6 weeks to either plan their own youth-led project or consult on decisions that the organisation are wanting to make. There have also been further opportunities that members of our Youth Board have attended, such as meetings with local MPs, co-production sessions with young people

Impact – what change has occurred or what  projects have they worked on?

• Consulted on Unloc’s new marketing strategy and helped us decide the new names of our programmes
• Our Co-Chairs, Lily-Anne & Olivia, met with Stephen Morgan MP in the House of Commons to represent young people and advocate for more investment into community based programmes
• The Youth Board have started working on and planning their own project, a podcast, which is due to be released later this calendar year.
• The Youth Board co-designed the mural in the Portsmouth Changemaker Studios Staff Kitchen
• Youth Board Members have attended various, high profile Unloc events, including our Changemaker Moments Annual Dinner, an impact panel with 50 managers working for BAE Systems and Brighter Futures Forum with senior business leaders from across industries.
• Members of the Youth Board have been part of our interview panels for new, prospective staff members and support in our decision making
• Supported with the recruitment strategy for new Youth Board Members
• Co-Chairs have since joined the Unloc Advisory Board