British Youth Council
Logo of the British Youth Council
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| Founded | 1948 |
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| Type | UK charity |
| Location |
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Area served
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United Kingdom |
| Services |
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Key people
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Jo Hobbs (Chief Executive Officer) Anna Rose Barker (Chair) Luke Thornton (Vice Chair-Finance) Ife Grillo (Vice Chair-Campaigns and Communications) Jake Pitt (Vice Chair-Participation and Development) |
| Affiliations | |
| Website | www |
49-51 East Road
London, United Kingdom
Jo Hobbs (Chief Executive Officer)
Anna Rose Barker (Chair)
Luke Thornton (Vice Chair-Finance)
Ife Grillo (Vice Chair-Campaigns and Communications)
The British Youth Council (BYC) is a UK charity that works to empower young people and promote their interests. BYC, run by young people, exists to represent the views of young people to government and decision-makers at a local, national, European and international level; and to promote the increased participation of young people in society and public life.
The British Youth Council was established by the Foreign Office of the British Government in preparation for the first World Assembly of Youth. Its original aim was to unite young people in Britain against the forces of communism amid tense international relations just after World War II.
In 1963, British Youth Council gained independence from the British Government and became a UK charity championing the opinions of young people.
From the late 1960s, British Youth Council expanded its work in connecting youth councils across the UK – a move championed by then staff member John Denham, former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
In 1971, BYC organised the annual World Assembly of Youth event in Manchester where Prime Minister Edward Heath was the keynote speaker.
In the late 1970s, BYC elected David Hunt as chair (now member of the House of Lords) as well as Janet Paraskeva (now First Civil Service Commissioner) and Peter Mandelson.
BYC published the "Youth Unemployment: Cause and Cures" report, taking it to Prime Minister Jim Callaghan in Downing Street to discuss the issue of youth unemployment. They also attended the 11th World Festival on Youth in Cuba where motions were passed on the human rights records of the USSR and USA. Delegates include Trevor Phillips, Paul Boateng and Charles Clarke MP.
The 1980s saw the British Youth Council hit increasingly difficult times. In 1987 BYC Scotland closed due to funding cuts by the Government at the time. In this period the British Youth Council also had its founding Foreign Office grant withdrawn due to the changes in international relations. However, the British Youth Council carried on and continued to do work continuing to promote local youth councils and was involved in the UK's signing of the historic UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Wikipedia