Final countdown towards Joined Up Summit which aims to transform outcomes for young people

The countdown is on – it is now less than two weeks until the inaugural Joined Up Summit brings together experts from across youth work, health and education in a bid to transform outcomes for young people across the country.

The Joined Up Summit, in Birmingham on Thursday, November 7, will see leaders and decision-makers from the worlds of employment, social care, criminal justice, business and the Government – including keynote speaker Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England – as well as health, education and youth work, join 16-25-year-olds to build a brighter future for young people, by putting their needs first.

The day promises to be full of connection, inspiration, discovery, learning and creativity. The agenda – co-created by young producers – is based around the four themes of Our Potential, Our Communities, Our Power and Our Wellbeing.

Sessions and workshops include: #BeeWell, a youth-centred programme demonstrating the power of listening to young people at scale, #iwill, a movement of young people leading positive change in their communities and Right to Succeed’s Cradle to Career North Birkenhead community-led programme improving education and social care outcomes for the community.

There will also be performances, including from COREus, a vocal group made up from students from across the Birmingham-based CORE Education Trust, and Nathan Parker, a spoken word artist with a background in youth work.

Ndidi Okezie OBE, chief executive officer of national youth work charity UK Youth, which is convening the event, said: “Over the years, if there’s one thing that has become crystal clear to me, it’s that we can’t continue to try to solve society’s biggest challenges while operating in a fragmented system of silos.  

“Whether it’s youth work, education, healthcare, social justice, or business, the barriers to sustained progress are often rooted in the fact that we are working at cross purposes with little understanding or respect for the unique role of other professionals.

“But I’m not just talking about it — UK Youth is stepping up to answer this urgent call for change. I’m passionate about the upcoming Joined Up Summit, an event designed to bring people across sectors together to tackle the underlying issues we’re all facing.

“The challenges facing our society are too complex, too interconnected, to be addressed in isolation. It’s time to break down the walls, to embrace a more holistic vision of social change. The future of our communities – indeed, the future of our society – depends on our ability to join up our thinking and our actions.”

Dame Rachel, the keynote speaker at the event, said: “During my time as commissioner, I have heard from more than a million children about their hopes, dreams and aspirations for the future, and crucially how they want politicians and policy-makers to listen to their views.

“I am excited to take these challenges to the heart of government and decision-makers because the voice of a child is powerful, but the voice of a million children is undeniable.”

Limited places are still available for the free event, which is funded by KKR, Osborne Clarke, The Prudence Trust, the Youth Futures Foundation and the National Citizen Service.

To register interest in attending, see registration.crowdcomms.com/joinedup

For more information, see ukyouth.org/joinedupsummit

UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. With an open network of more than 9,000 youth organisations and nation partners; UK Youth reaches more than four million young people across the UK and is focused on unlocking youth work as the catalyst of change that is needed now more than ever. To find out more, visit ukyouth.org

UK Youth is involved in a range of programmes designed to help young people thrive, such as outdoor learning, physical literacy, social action and employability. For more on UK Youth’s programmes, see ukyouth.org/what-we-do/programmes 

Youth Futures is focused on reducing youth unemployment in England. As the national What Works Centre for youth employment, with a specific focus on marginalised young people, it aims to create a society where all young people have fair access to work.

The National Citizen Service is the only dedicated public body for youth, and a key component of the Government’s National Youth Guarantee. Through trips away from home, grant-funded programmes that take place in their community, and online experiences, young people can find their strengths and become world and work ready. NCS is managed and supported by NCS Trust.

Founded in 2009 to help young people achieve their potential and build bridges between communities, NCS aims to inspire generations of citizens through shared experiences that develop character and bridge social divides, with a vision of a country of connected, confident and caring citizens where everybody feels at home.