Charity director seconded to DCMS to take senior youth policy role

A director at UK Youth has been seconded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to take a leading role steering the government’s National Youth Strategy.

Kayleigh Wainwright has moved from her role as the young people charity’s director of youth sector innovation this month to become the DCMS’s head of youth strategy engagement.

This is a key role within the Labour government’s £185m backed National Youth Strategy that includes closing the National Citizen Service (NCS) and investing in bolstering youth clubs and services. The NCS had been a flagship policy under previous Conservative governments.

“I'm really excited to be able to contribute my knowledge, experience and connections from my career so far to ensure the new National Youth Strategy is co-produced with young people and the youth sector,” said Wainwright on LinkedIN.

In the role she will be the senior leader in the civil society and youth team at the DCMS responsible for youth and stakeholder engagement for the strategy.

She said this will include “designing the approach to youth and local stakeholder engagement, especially the way to reach and meaningfully involve as many young people as possible”.

The role also involves engaging with youth providers and MPs and “ensuring that the voice of young people is present in all major decisions and discussion forms”.

In addition, her role involves liaising with other departments, including the Treasury, No 10 and the Cabinet Office.

Wainwright has been with UK Youth for the last eight years, including roles as its director of collective action and joint director of engagement. She is also a former youth worker with Bolton Lads and Girls Club and a participation manager at Ambitious About Autism.

Funding for the government’s National Youth Strategy includes £85m from government and £100m from the Dormant Assets Scheme.

This will be allocated to boost youth facilities across England, including buying new equipment and helping youth clubs carry out renovations.

“Existing youth centre projects already underway via the Youth Investment Fund will also be completed as part of the Government’s commitment to young people,” the DCMS added.