Midlands Business Produce Global Youth Engagement Report Ahead Of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Birmingham-based insight and engagement agency Beatfreeks have produced The Youth Voice Plan in collaboration with The Prince’s Trust and Commonwealth Games Federation
- The Youth Voice Plan, enables young people to contribute to the legacy of Birmingham 2022 and future Commonwealth Games
- Promotes ongoing access to volunteering, training and employment opportunities for young people generated by The Games
- Encourages an inclusive youth culture across the Commonwealth
- The Youth Voice Plan was devised by young people for young people.
This week (13th July) Ama Agbeze MBE, joined young people in Birmingham, for the launch of The Prince’s Trust and Commonwealth Games Federation, Youth Voice Plan. It includes recommendations to ensure the legacy of each Commonwealth Games, benefits young people in each host country.
The Youth Voice Plan was devised with young people from across the Commonwealth and was led by Young Leaders from the UK who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust and partners. It forms part of a wider multi-game’s partnership between The Prince’s Trust, Prince’s Trust International and the Commonwealth Sport movement.
The recommendations include:
- Enabling young people to access volunteering, training and employment opportunities generated by the Commonwealth Games
- Inspiring young people through sport to engage in developing skills that will help to increase their confidence
- Placing young people at the forefront of legacy objectives for the Commonwealth Games
The Young Leaders were helped to develop their skills and experience with support from the Khalili Foundation in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat. In 2021, the Young Leaders were joined by a group of British Council Young Leaders from nine different countries to ensure international ideas were taken into account. The plan continued to take shape with a series of online youth summits, which engaged young people across the Commonwealth and focussed on education, sustainability (which was attended by Olympic Gold Medallist Tom Daly OBE) and global citizenship issues.
Beatfreeks, and agency based in Digbeth that specialise in increasing relevance with young and diverse audiences, played a key part in collating and analysing the data collected from the three youth summits. This data was then collated and published in The Youth Voice Plan which can be downloaded HERE.
Amy Clamp, Commercial Director at Beatfreeks said: “Beatfreeks are incredibly proud to be working with organisations like the Commonwealth Games Federation to connect them meaningfully to young people. Having been involved from the start of this exciting collaboration with the Prince’s Trust and Commonwealth Games Federation, we were able to together design a project that would hear from young people across the Commonwealth. Our role included creating a robust research methodology, analysing all of the amazing conversations and ideas young people shared at each of the three summits (education, sustainability and global citizenship), and then turning this into a Youth Voice Plan that will inspire and guide how the Commonwealth Games Federation engages young people for years to come. It’s truly rewarding working on a project that will have such huge impact in each of the countries in the Commonwealth. The involvement of the young people was pivotal in ensuring the changes that are made, are future facing and fit for purpose.”
Ama Agbeze MBE said: “The Youth Voice Plan is an incredible achievement and shows that young people across the world feel invested in the Commonwealth Games and their futures. Sport can make a real difference to young people, increasing their confidence and their aspirations. It’s great to see that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Federation and The Prince’s Trust have forged a successful partnership that will benefit young people across the world.”
Jasmin Kaur, Chair of The Prince’s Trust Young Leaders Group said: “The Youth Voice Plan is a culmination of ideas from hundreds of young people across the Commonwealth. We’re aiming to ensure that the legacy of each Commonwealth Games offers inspiration as well as tangible benefits for young people, including education, training and employment opportunities that will also uplift their local communities. I’m very proud of what we have achieved.”
Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir said: “The Youth Voice Plan is a fantastic initiative which is very much by young people for young people. We are delighted to be unveiling this as part of our partnership with The Prince’s Trust as another fantastic legacy of the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”
Pritpal Surj Commonwealth Lead at The Prince’s Trust said: “Young people have been at the forefront of the Youth Voice Plan. It will help to ensure that sustainability and intercultural relationships are strengthened and benefit young people throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
“The Plan is also a celebration of a global youth community, which helped to galvanise enthusiasm for the Commonwealth Games and facilitated a safe space for hundreds of young people to share their aspirations and ideas for a better future.”
The Youth Voice Plan and associated youth summits, were coordinated by The Prince’s Trust in partnership with Beatfreeks, the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, The British Council, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and The Khalili Foundation.
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For press enquiries please contact Abi Hearle on 07821 652 143 or email abi@beatfreeks.com
Notes to Editors
About Beatfreeks
The world is changing thick and fast. There are new rules being written, new normals being forged, new expectations and desires being unearthed. It is young people who are writing these rules, setting these trends and leading the way. Young people offer access to the future, now.
Beatfreeks is a full service insight and engagement agency specialising in increasing relevance with young and diverse audiences. We ready our clients to brave the future by connecting them to the largest generation in human history.
By tapping into the hearts and minds of future generations, brands and institutions have an incredible opportunity to be culturally vibrant, deeply resonant and relentlessly relevant.
More details about Beatfreeks can be found at www.beatfreeks.com, call 0121 794 0207 or email info@beatfreeks.com.
About the Commonwealth Sport Foundation
As progressive leaders in sport and social development, the Commonwealth Sport Movement continually strives to demonstrate the power of sport; to unlock our human potential and transform lives. Founded as the charitable foundation of the Commonwealth Sport Movement, the Commonwealth Sport Foundation will look to help address some of the world’s greatest challenges: Youth Empowerment, Equal Rights, Historical Injustice, Small States and Island States and Sustainable Cities and Communities.
More details around the Foundation can be found at: www.commonwealthsportfoundation.com.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, and through broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government.
www.britishcouncil.org
About The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust helps young people all over the UK to build their confidence and skills and supports them into jobs, education and training.
Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity supports 11 to 30-year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
Many of the young people helped by The Trust’s youth support workers and mentors are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. The courses offered by The Trust give young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.
Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.
The Trust has helped more than a million young people in the UK since 1976. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.