Summit aims to Join Up thinking about youth services across sectors

Leading figures from youth work, health and education are set to Join Up for an inaugural summit which aims to transform outcomes for young people by putting their needs first.

The Joined Up Summit, on Thursday, November 7, will see experts and decision-makers from the worlds of employment, social care, criminal justice, business and the Government – including Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza – join 16-25-year-olds to build a brighter future for young people.

The Summit – the first of its type – aims to break down barriers between different youth sectors and promote a “new era of joined-up working that puts young people’s needs and aspirations at the centre”, focused on how they are set up, equipped and empowered to thrive in every stage of life.

The Summit follows a report by thinktank Demos which highlighted a “fragmented” youth system with work duplicated and young people unsure where to turn for support.

The report found “a lack of joined-up services is estimated to cost the government between £1.5 billion and £4.3bn every year”, due to “additional use of public services by young people…who did not receive adequate support of early help”, and that “for certain groups in the population, the effect of poor public service provision and delivery is especially damaging”.

Dame Rachel, the keynote speaker at the event, said: “During my time as Children’s Commissioner, I have heard from more than a million children about their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future, and crucially how they want politicians and policy-makers to listen to their views.

“I am excited to take these challenges to the heart of government and decision-makers because the voice of a child is powerful, but the voice of a million children is undeniable.”

Ndidi Okezie OBE, chief executive of national youth work charity UK Youth, which is convening the Summit in Birmingham, said: “The ambition is to bring together young people and diverse cross-sector senior leaders in Youth Work Week to share what works, forge new partnerships and drive collective action.

“At a time when far too many young people face fragmented support and siloed services, the Summit represents a critical shift toward a more integrated, innovative, and impactful approach.  

“The Summit will kick-start a new era of joined-up working that puts young people’s needs and aspirations at the centre.

“We want to generate new investments into young people, from both the public and private sectors, alongside securing commitments to policies which will benefit young people going forward.”

The Summit will also help launch the Joined Up Institute, a learning initiative bringing together young people with cross-sector leaders to transform outcomes for young people across the UK.

It is hoped the Summit and Institute will lead to increased investment and policy support for youth services, alongside stronger partnerships and infrastructure, leading to improved outcomes for young people.

The event is funded by KKR, Osborne Clarke, the Youth Futures Foundation and the National Citizen Service.

Barry Fletcher, Youth Futures chief executive officer, said: “We’re so pleased to support the Joined Up Institute and look forward to kick-starting this new initiative at the Summit in Birmingham.

“As the What Works Centre for youth employment, we know that generating high-quality evidence is essential to creating impactful change for young people.

“Through our programme, Evidence into Action, we’re pleased to be working with the Joined Up Institute to understand, enact and embed evidence-informed change.

“The Joined Up Summit will encompass a range of insight, evidence and expertise, launching partnerships that work together to create transformative change, and brighter futures for young people.”

Harris Bokhari OBE, NCS Trust chair, said: “We are delighted to play a key role in the Joined Up Summit this November as one of the founding supporters. I am looking forward to the new connections the event will foster.

“Collaboration is crucial for the youth sector at this moment. By coming together to share impactful experiences and initiatives that are transforming the lives of young people, we can ensure a unified approach, prioritising the needs of young people above all.”

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 8,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org 

UK Youth is proud to be a founding member of the Hope Collective, a partnership of cross-sector organisations with aligned values and a shared vision; to work together in a spirit of unity to create real change for young people and communities across the UK. It was originally formed to support the 20th anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola Taylor, who was stabbed to death in November 2000.

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability, including Hatch, a youth employability programme run in partnership with KFC. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes 

Youth Futures is focused on reducing youth unemployment in England. As the national What Works Centre for youth employment, with a specific focus on marginalised young people, it aims to create a society where all young people have fair access to work.

The National Citizen Service is the only dedicated public body for youth, and a key component of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee. Through trips away from home, grant-funded programmes that take place in their community, and online experiences, young people can find their strengths and become world and work ready.

NCS is managed and supported by NCS Trust. Founded in 2009 to help young people achieve their potential and build bridges between communities, NCS aims to inspire generations of citizens through shared experiences that develop character and bridge social divides, with a vision of a country of connected, confident and caring citizens where everybody feels at home.