Our Youth Advisory Group: Strengthening our Programme

Over the Easter break, we had the pleasure of bringing together some of our 2024–25 Envision graduates from across our three regions for a National Youth Advisory Group Day.

In line with our We Reflect and Learn value, the day was dedicated to hearing directly from our young people about their experiences of the Envision Programme. Organised by Beth, our Partnerships Manager, and facilitated by Programme Coordinators Rebecca and Tamsin, the day featured thoughtful and insightful discussions through a range of interactive activities. We were also joined by Latesha, our newest Youth Trustee. As a graduate of the Envision Programme herself, it was fantastic to have her in the room contributing to the conversations. Her presence underscored our commitment to embedding youth voice at every level of the organisation – from programme delivery to governance.

One of our Envision Graduates told us:

“I really like the fact that you listen to us guys and we get a lot from sharing our thoughts. Yeah, that’s what makes Envision better than other programmes in the UK.”

Our young people embraced the opportunity to share their ideas, designing their own Envision session and engaging in a dynamic Agree/Disagree discussion focused on how we can strengthen the programme for future participants. The day ended on a high with some healthy competition at mini golf – a fun and fitting close to a productive session!

Youth voice sits at the heart of everything we do at Envision. We believe that when young people are trusted, listened to, and given a platform to shape the programmes designed for them, the results are more relevant, impactful, and empowering. Their insight doesn’t just improve our delivery, but ensures that we remain accountable and grounded in the real experiences of the communities we serve.

We feel so thankful to the young people who participated and shared their opinions on the day, helping us to make sure we continue to drive change and continue to best support the young people of Birmingham, Bristol, London and the West Midlands.