Mayor Andy Burnham Teams Up with Youth Leads UK to Inspire a New Generation of Leaders

Backed by Greater Manchester’s Mayor, a new toolkit has been developed by young people for young people to boost civic education and engagement.

Youth Leads UK’s Civic Leadership Youth Steering Group and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have successfully celebrated the launch of a pioneering new tool designed to enhance civic engagement among young people in Greater Manchester.

The Youth Steering Group is made up of over 20 remarkable young individuals from diverse backgrounds across Greater Manchester. To develop the resource, they conducted extensive research and engaged with various stakeholders, including decision makers, educators, and youth groups. Their research revealed a significant lack of awareness among young people about vital civic roles and how they can get involved.

Bringing together leaders from the public, private, and charity sectors at leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK’s Manchester office, the event celebrated the toolkit, gave young people the opportunity to network with decision makers, and explored new avenues for civic involvement.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“I encourage educators, community leaders, and youth organisations to use this resource to its full potential. We can help ensure that young people's voices are heard and that they get the chance to play leading roles in decision-making processes. I want to thank Youth Leads UK for partnering with us to bring this initiative to life. As long as I am Mayor of Greater Manchester, we will continue to confront and tackle discrimination, injustice, and structural inequality in our city-region."

Saeed Atcha MBE DL, CEO of Youth Leads UK, said:

“This new tool is a game-changer for youth engagement. It equips young people with the knowledge and confidence to take charge and shape the future of Greater Manchester. We're not just talking about involvement; we're talking about leadership and transformation. The future is now."

Kevin Duffy, Regional Managing Partner at RSM UK in the North West, said:

"I’m passionate about social mobility and at RSM we are proud to support such an important initiative which benefits young people and the Greater Manchester region. The work carried out by Youth Leads UK and the Civic Leadership Youth Steering Group will have a positive impact on our community. and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Youth Leads and seeing how the programme evolves."

For more information about the new civic engagement tool and Youth Leads UK's ongoing initiatives, please visit https://youthleads.uk/civicresources