Save the Children launches first Youth Advisory Board

London, 21 December 2020 - Save the Children is looking for eight thoughtful, enthusiastic, trailblazing young people to form its first ever Youth Advisory Board.

The Board will help ensure that young people’s views are at the heart of everything the children’s charity says and does. They will work with Save the Children’s senior teams to lead projects including fundraising, campaigning, media and communications.

Meg Briody, Campaigns Manager for Youth Participation at Save the Children, said: “To help every child reach their full potential, we know we need to represent young people from all backgrounds across the UK. We need their ideas, passion and creativity. We need them making decisions and challenging us when we’re not getting it right. Our first Youth Advisory Board will ensure we don’t just work for children, we work in partnership with them.”

“So today we’re appealing to young people up and down the country. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done something like this before. All you need is a passion for making the world better for other children, as well as a willingness to learn and work alongside others. If that’s you, we want to hear from you.”

“Young people are already leading the way in tackling some of the most important issues facing humanity – from anti-racism to the climate crisis. As the world’s largest child rights organisation, we are excited to be supporting a new group of children to change the world for the better.”

Save the Children stands for children everywhere - whoever they are, wherever they live and whatever they’ve been through, and can only do this if it is guided by young people with a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. So the charity is particularly encouraging applications from young people who consider themselves to be Black, Asian or from a minority ethnic background, LGBT+, disabled, working class or from a low income background, a young carer, or a refugee.

As the first group to take their places on the Advisory Board, they will be responsible for shaping how the board works – devising their own code of conduct, agreeing their approach to projects and leading recruitment of eight more young people to join them in 2022.

The charity welcomes applications from anyone aged 12 to 17 who can commit to joining the board for two years. Applications will be reviewed from 11th January 2021 onwards.

Save the Children is encouraging leaders of UK based youth organisations and schools to share details of the Board with young people who might be interested.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Download the information pack to get more detailed information about the role and applying for it.
• Anyone interested can contact: youthadvisoryboard@savethechildren.org.uk with any questions about the application process or the role.
• Please note: Unfortunately we can’t accept applications from children or close family members of Save the Children staff or trustees.
• Save the Children has spokespeople available for interview. Please contact: d.stewart@savethechildren.org.uk / +44 (0) 20 3763 0119 or 24 hrs: media@savethechildren.org.uk.