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We welcome the publication of the National Youth Strategy and are encouraged by its clear intention to put young people at the centre of decision-making. A genuinely youth-led approach, backed by a whole-of-government commitment, is long overdue and represents a significant step forward.
At #BeeWell, this focus strongly resonates. We know how vital it is for young people to have trusted adults, supportive communities and meaningful opportunities to thrive both online and offline. Co-producing with young people and listening to what truly matters to them is not just good practice; it is essential if we are to deliver lasting change. It is promising to see these principles reflected throughout the Strategy’s 10-year vision.
However, we believe the Strategy provides a strong foundation on which further ambition can be developed. The Children’s Commissioner for England reports that only 22% of young people feel listened to by those in power. If the National Youth Strategy is to succeed, this gap between ambition and lived experience must be addressed.
Turning Youth Voice into Systematic Action
Through #BeeWell and similar initiatives across the country, we have seen how robust, youth-led wellbeing data enables local leaders to understand young people’s needs and act on what they say matters most.
These approaches are proven, scalable and relatively low cost. Wales has gone further still, showing national leadership through the School Health Research Network (SHRN), which ensures young people’s wellbeing is measured consistently and used to inform policy and practice. This level of infrastructure turns listening into action.
Yet this remains the missing piece of the National Youth Strategy in England.
Why a National Wellbeing Measurement Programme Matters
The evidence is stark. The State of the Nation report shows that the UK ranks last out of 27 European countries for how happy 15-year-olds are with their lives, and a third of young people aged 10 to 19 report feeling lonely some of the time. These findings underline the urgency of moving beyond commitments to listen, towards a national youth wellbeing measurement programme that gives every young person a voice.
Such a programme would provide consistent, robust insight into young people’s experiences, enable communities to target support where it is needed most, and allow young people to influence decisions that affect their lives – a core ambition of the National Youth Strategy itself.
Making the Strategy Deliver for Every Young Person
To realise the Strategy’s ambitions, implementation must prioritise disadvantaged communities, close participation gaps and tackle entrenched inequalities. Transparent reporting on progress towards the 2035 goals is essential, alongside clear mechanisms that allow young people to hold decision-makers to account.
At #BeeWell, we believe the National Youth Strategy creates a real opportunity to embed listening at scale. By introducing a national wellbeing measurement programme, the Government can ensure that every young person in England is heard consistently – and that their voices lead directly to action.
We know this works. Now is the moment to make young people’s wellbeing everybody’s business.
