Meet our new 2025 Youth Council and discover their aspirations for the year ahead

Intro by Daisy

Young people need change. To make that change young people must be present. 

We are a group of young people passionate about making a difference in our respective communities. Whether it’s increasing in person work experience opportunities near us, ensuring virtual placements are high quality, and more generally giving the youth a voice. We are here to make that happen. 

Together we represent many different areas of the UK from Yorkshire to London. Whilst our locations may vary our passion for improvement and inclusion unites us. Coming from different regions our perspectives around work experience and education vary immensely and our aim is to decrease this variation ensuring all young people have access to quality and fulfilling work experience placements. 

Our commitment extends beyond mere placements, we strive to equip young people with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their chosen fields. Through speeches and skill building programmes we aim to foster a generation of empowered and engaged citizens ready to shape a brighter future for all. 

By investing in young people, we are investing in the future of our communities. Please now allow these superb individuals to introduce themselves. 

West Midlands by Gracie

My name is Gracie, and I am excited to represent West Midlands. I am a current Year 12 student studying for my A-Levels in History, English Literature and Fine Art. I was introduced to this incredible opportunity to sit among so many like-minded individuals from the Youth Council section of the charity’s web page. Before this, however, I had previously worked with Futures For All through their enriching work experiences. I'm thrilled to represent a charity that aligns with my passion for equality and look forward to making a real impact. 

My career aspirations are to work in either the humanities or education field, spreading my love for education and knowledge to others. I joined the Youth Council to help spread a myriad of opportunities to state-funded students, allowing us a level playing field to enter the various career sectors, no matter where in the country they are based. I'm passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices in various fields and ensuring that opportunities are genuinely accessible to everyone, regardless of their individual needs. 

So far, I have deeply enjoyed my role in the Youth Council so far! I have met a group of truly amazing young people and I am looking forward to all the future programs and changes we will create.  

East Midlands by Imani

Hello! My name is Imani and I am the East Midlands representative for the Futures For All Youth Council.  

I first heard about Futures For All during my first few months at college, where it was advised to take part in the diverse programs they offer across various sectors, including my top area of interest; the creative industries. I was immensely impressed and grateful for their virtual work experience opportunities, which were so engaging and immersive that they felt just like being in person. 

Living in the East Midlands made finding work experience in the creative industries incredibly challenging. However, Futures For All gave me the invaluable opportunity to enhance my creative abilities, teamwork, and critical analysis skills. 

This great experience, along with several others gained from industry talks, fueled my desire to join the Youth Council. Futures For All not only helped me plan my future but also enabled me to discover other routes I hadn’t previously considered for my desired career. Inspired by these insights, I joined the Youth Council to further help and improve opportunities for students like myself who also want to learn more about industries and actively explore their desired career paths. 

My goals as part of the Futures For All Youth Council are centered on supporting young people in discovering future careers they are passionate about. I aim to assist Futures For All in making meaningful contributions to improving the programs offered across various industries, ensuring students can gain the maximum benefit from each opportunity. Additionally, I have set personal objectives, such as improving my public speaking skills, to grow alongside my contributions to the Youth Council. 

North-East by Daisy

My name is Daisy, and I am representing the North East in this Youth Council. I chose to apply after being recommended to do so by my teachers. Living in the North East has made me realise that there is a lack of opportunities in all departments and no young person should have to suffer with this. 

My main goal is to increase the opportunities for students like me in the North. The main challenge I see is a lack of creative opportunities and a lack of opportunities available to everyone. A big issue I have noticed is that whilst many struggle to gain the experience they need others are easily able to obtain this because of their connections and family which is part of the reason why I decided to apply to the Youth Council. 

In my community, I’ve always felt a strong desire to create positive change. Growing up in the North East, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by young people, from limited access to resources to a lack of opportunities to express ourselves. I believe that we need to foster creativity and collaboration. 

⭐️I envision a space where young people can not only showcase their talents but also learn from one another, building a supportive network that celebrates our diverse backgrounds and experiences.⭐️ 

My goal is to inspire others and help young people in the North East gain access to fair and equal opportunities. 

West London by Mian

I wanted to join the Futures For All Youth Council because I believe in the power of young voices to shape the future. Too often, young people are overlooked when it comes to decisions that impact their education, careers, and opportunities. By being part of this council, I want to ensure that every young person – no matter their background – has access to the inspiration, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed. I am passionate about driving change, challenging barriers, and making sure that youth perspectives are not just heard, but truly valued. This is my chance to contribute, collaborate, and create real impact alongside like-minded individuals who are just as eager to make a difference. 

West London by Berenise

London is full of opportunities, but for young people, many of them feel out of reach until after they have finished their education. I was lucky enough to get a work experience placement in Year 10 at a daycare. It wasn’t exactly what I was passionate about, but it gave me my first glimpse into the working world, and for that, I’m really grateful. 

I’m well aware that I was one of the lucky ones. Many young people don’t get the chance to gain any work experience at all, meaning they step into adulthood without real insight into the careers they might want to pursue. This needs to change. 

I’m passionate about making work experience accessible to everyone under the age of 18. That’s why I applied to join Futures For All. If I have the opportunity, big or small, to help young people explore their career paths, I want to do my part.  

Work experience isn’t just about ticking a box for future job applications. It’s a chance for young people to build confidence, develop key skills, and gain a deeper understanding of the workplace. It helps them discover their strengths, explore their interests, and prepare for the realities of professional life. Employers often prioritise candidates with experience, which can make it even harder for those without connections to compete. Opportunities shouldn’t depend on who your parents know or what social circles you’re in. That’s why organisations like Futures For All are so important. They help young people access valuable experiences, regardless of their background, so that everyone has the chance to learn, grow, and shape their future. 

London by Emma

I am Emma, one of London’s representatives for the Youth Council. Although there are a plethora of work experience opportunities available in London, there is still a divide between students from state schools and students from private schools being able to access these opportunities.  

I heard about the Speakers for School organisation through my careers advisor at school - and after reading through all of the work they provide for young people, such as myself, I wanted to be a part of the positive change that Futures For All strives to make. It is so crucial as young people to share our voices, our experiences and make an everlasting difference, which is why I cannot wait for the year ahead as a member of the Youth Council. 

East by Sanjana 

Hi, my name is Sanjana, and I’m a Year 12 student, representing the East of England on the Futures For All Youth Council. Living in a city close to London, I’ve seen how access to opportunities, especially work experience, can vary massively between schools. That gap can really affect students’ confidence and career direction. 

I discovered Futures For All through my school, and it’s opened up opportunities I wouldn’t have found otherwise. As someone hoping to study medicine, I know how hard it is to get meaningful medical experience, especially without personal connections. 

Joining the Youth Council is a chance for me to help level the playing field. I want to make sure students from every background know what’s out there and feel empowered to pursue it – whether it’s a virtual placement or a dream career path. 

Summary by Gracie

What happens when you bring together 16 young people from across the UK, each with their own story, passion, and drive for change? You get a Youth Council that reflects the full spectrum of today's youth experience. 

From a range of UK cities, from the North to the South, we have come together joining our various experiences and perspectives to advocate for young people’s experiences. With such a range of insight, we’re able to explore the issues affecting young people from all walks of life, and push for meaningful progress in areas like career access, education, and opportunity. 

Whether through making work experience more accessible to those around the UK or providing a voice to opportunities to those in often overlooked areas or situations, we’re here to ask questions, challenge norms, and suggest solutions rooted in lived experience. 

At the heart of it all is one clear goal: to create a fairer future where every young person has a real chance to thrive, regardless of background or circumstance. 

As Malala Yousafzai, British activist and champion of youth empowerment, once said: “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.” 

Imagine what 16 voices can do.