ResPublica/ NCVYS Commission on Youth launches video interviews with key public figures

21^st February 2013

Series of video interviews with leading political figures explores attitudes and engagement of young people and social institutions

ResPublica and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services today launch a series of video interviews with a number of leading political commentators. The interviews form a key part of the ResPublica/NCVYS Commission on Youth, a multi-output initiative aimed at unravelling a more holistic analysis of the 2011 riots as well as the more general issues affecting young people in society.

The aim of the six interviews, all led by a Commission on Youth ‘ambassador’ aged between 17 and 23, is to discuss the issues affecting young people’s engagement in society, including the causes, impact and challenges of the 2011 riots.

The Commission on Youth, which commenced in April 2012, focuses on three key themes: Engagement and Participation; Family Structure and Community Support; and Authorities and Institutions.

Engagement and Participation

A decline in engagement and participation is often cited as a factor behind the rising disaffection of young people towards the political process. How can politicians reach out to young people more effectively in order to engage them as active citizens? How can the Government, local authorities and communities better promote youth leadership and political engagement?

David Blunkett MP with Linda Epstein (age 17) – David Blunkett talks about engagement, citizenship programs and how politicians can connect with young people.

Baroness Jones with Adam Bradford (age 20) – Baroness Jones discusses problems with the education system and the importance and potential of volunteering.

Family Structure and Community Support

The Commission on Youth explores questions around family and community breakdown: how can stronger family and community cohesion create opportunities to fulfil the aspirations of the youth? What is the potential for all parts of society joining partnerships to support families and improve lives of young people? And importantly, how can community ‘hubs’ and other organisations play a role in achieving this?

Shaun Bailey with Tom Clarke (age 23) – Shaun Bailey speaks about family breakdown in Britain and the role of religious groups in fostering a sense of community.

David Burrowes MP with Adam Bradford (age 20) – Adam Bradford talks to David Burrowes about family breakdown, lack of opportunities and material disadvantage.

Authorities and Institutions

This theme explores the relationship between young people, authorities and institutions. How can the Government evolve into meaningful solutions rather than taking a step back into the dark ages of the iron fist? What importance should be attached to educational underachievement and educational exclusion as a cause underpinning the riots? And is there a bias in the way the legal and policing system is implemented that could in principle alienate young people from deprived backgrounds?

Tim Loughton MP with Rhasan Brunner (age 18) – Tim Loughton talks about the importance of education for increasing life chances and preventing a repeat of the riots.

Kate Green MP with Vicky Caswell (age 21) – Kate Green identifies some of the issues around disengagement of young people from the political process.

The entire interview series is available here.

See Also:

• Commission to Explore Youth Engagement
• Commission on Youth reveals scope of its year-long inquiry
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: Tim Loughton MP
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: Shaun Bailey
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: Kate Green MP
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: David Burrowes MP
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: David Blunkett MP
• Commission on Youth Interview Series: Baroness Jones
• Commission on Youth call for evidence

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