The successor body of the UK Youth Parliament, which ceased to operate last year after the charity that ran it was forced to shut down due to financial challenges, is now open for membership.

The new body is called Youth Council UK, and is being run by another charity the National Youth Agency, which last year took over responsibility for the youth parliamentary body, which had been run by the British Youth Council, the 75-year-old charity that closed in March 2024.

The UK Youth Parliament, which sees young people lobby MPs and Lords and sit annually in the House of Commons, launched in 1999 and had been run by the BYC with government funding since 2011.

The NYA has announced this week that Youth Council UK will continue the UK Youth Parliament’s work in lobbying policy makers, across the UK and crown dependencies.

It is to form an elected executive committee “which will play a central role in shaping national and international priorities, ensuring youth perspectives are heard by government and decision-makers”, said the NYA.

The creation of the Youth Council UK follows the convening during the summer by NYA of a youth and an expert advisory group to ensure it has a “truly youth-led model”.

“Developing a contemporary Youth Council for the UK has been made possible through the invaluable expertise and support of both advisory groups,” said NYA strategic youth voice Esther Horner-Aird.

“We’re now looking forward to welcoming members who reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences of young people across the four nations and cross dependencies.”

Youth organisations, political youth wings, youth councils and any other bodies where young people hold decision making power are invited to become members.

They will then nominate young people to stand for its executive committee, with elections taking place in January next year.

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