The National Lottery Community Fund is the largest funder of children and young people activity across the UK.
Over a third of our funding goes to the smallest of grassroots groups right up to large UK-wide charities to ensure children and young people thrive. In 2020 we recruited a panel of young people from across Wales to co-develop our Mind Our Future programme with us. This work continues as we strive to make sure young people’s voices are included in all our work, whether it’s through the grants we make, the people we influence or the things we learn.
Through the Youth Voice Team Wales advisory panel, we aim to meet the issues young people and their communities are facing head on, with the aim of steering significant and positive change in communities.
The Young Voice Team Wales meet with our Wales Knowledge and Learning team and decide as a team what work to focus on and how it should be achieved. They also receive support and guidance from our staff as part of a tailored training package to develop their skills and experience.
We are currently recruiting three new members to join our team. If you are interested please read our advert.
If you have any queries or would like to discuss the group further, please don’t hesitate to contact us wales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
Jessica is 21 years old and is from Aberdare. She will begin studying a BA Creative & Therapeutic Arts degree at University of South Wales this year. In 2019 she and her peers cofounded The What If Project to support and educate young people with their mental health.
“Being part of the Young People in the Lead Wales team is a fantastic opportunity to move forward and support young people in Wales.”
Serena is 22 years old and lives in Hawarden in Flintshire. She works as a Creative Engagement Assistant at Theatr Clwyd working with community groups to use the arts to improve health, wellbeing and accessibility, and wants to support young LGBT+ people in Wales.
“The National Lottery Money is incredibly important because it will allow us to create the spaces needed to facilitate our youth resilience project. The rise of loneliness and mental health issues among young people, especially during the pandemic, have made it more important than ever for us to create an outlet for connection.”
Tilly is 17 years old and studies Sport at Llandarcy Academy of Sport. She works with Ospreys in the Community supporting the community through rugby and other sports.
“Through the Young People in the Lead Wales team, I hope to use sport to support and raise awareness of work being done in Wales for young people.”
Tom is 23 years old and is from Caerphilly who is currently on secondment and volunteering with NYAS Cymru whilst also working with the Future Generation Leadership Academy of Wales.
“I feel a great sense of pride in being able to influence big decisions that will have a positive effect on the young people of Wales. This experience is invaluable to me. It’s great to be able to influence decisions being made that are important to us as young people and being able to make a difference.”