Empowering Young Voices: Inside YMCA Lincolnshire’s Youth Board

At YMCA Lincolnshire, young people are not just participants, they're leaders and changemakers too. That's why we are pleased to welcome our new 'Youth Board', a group of young individuals aged 14-19 who are helping shape the future direction of our youth services. This initiative was started to ensure that youth are heard, respected, and involved in decisions that impact them.

The board operates to ensure meaningful youth participation in organisational decisions, but also give young people the opportunity to lead projects, develop leadership skills, and drive real change in their communities; gaining valuable experience whilst making a tangible difference in the lives of their peers.

Our Structure

The current board includes eight young people who are actively involved in YMCA Lincolnshire's youth services. These founding members were initially invited to join based on their engagement in YMCA Lincolnshire activities and their passion for making positive change. We have ambitions of growing the board and as it does, it will become more inclusive, with a transparent application and nomination process open to all young people connected to the organisation. The goal is to build a diverse and representative group that truly reflects the communities YMCA Lincolnshire serves.

What Happens in Meetings?

Youth Board meetings have a set structure, and are led by the young members themselves. These sessions are designed to foster open discussions, creative thinking, and collaborative planning. In a recent meeting, the board co-produced its own mission statement and identified core values and priority issues. These ranged from youth mental health to the lack of youth voice in educational settings.

Work has also begun on two key youth-led projects:

• Developing inclusive parkour sessions tailored for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Launching an outreach initiative to engage local schools and promote youth participation and representation.

Established in response o a clear need, the team hope to drive more meaningful opportunities for young people to have a say in the services that affect them. By further embedding youth voice into the heart of YMCA Lincolnshire's work, the board ensures services are co-produced, inclusive, and relevant. It also gives young people real influence and responsibility, helping them grow into confident, capable leaders of the future.

Looking Ahead

The Youth Board aims to become a model of best practice, showing what’s possible when young people aren’t just consulted, but are empowered to lead. At its core, it's about trust, empowerment, and change. It’s about ensuring that young people are not only heard, but that their voices shape the future of youth work in Lincolnshire and hopefully beyond.

The YMCA Lincolnshire Youth Board helps us continue to work towards our purpose: “The purpose of YMCA Lincolnshire is to ensure that people and communities across the county have the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive so that they feel safe, valued and fulfilled.”