Young Advisors is a consultancy with a difference.
We specialise in youth insight and creative solutions for organisations that want to genuinely improve the experiences they offer young people.
Our network of teams across England amplifies young voices and ensures their perspectives drive meaningful transformation in organisations, communities, and society at large.
We work as equals in a safe, inclusive, and collaborative environment, always learning, sharing ideas, and developing our skills to make an even greater impact.
The results speak for themselves: stronger services, better products, more confident young people, and communities that thrive.
The Young Advisors story is one of empowerment, innovation, and lasting community change.
From our beginnings to the present day, we’ve been committed to putting young people at the heart of decisions that shape their lives.
Discover more about our journey below.
1998: New Deal for Communities
The Labour government launched its new deal for communities, aiming to transform 39 of the UK’s most deprived neighbourhoods by working directly with residents
Problem: Young people’s voices were missing from the table
2005: Breaking down barriers
Then–Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott commissioned a focus group to explore a pressing question: “Why aren’t young people taking part in decisions that affect their communities?”
The findings were clear:
- Adults were being paid to attend — young people weren’t
- Meeting spaces felt formal, intimidating, and unwelcoming
- Young people often lacked the confidence, skills, and invitation to contribute
This insight was the catalyst for a bold new idea: pay, train, and support young people so their voices could shape regeneration projects from the ground up
2006: Pilot projects
Five pilot areas were launched as part of the new deal for communities programme, each training and paying young people to work alongside professionals on regeneration plans.
These Young Advisors didn’t just sit in meetings, they:
- Led consultations with other young residents
- Helped redesign services to be more youth-friendly
- Brought fresh perspectives that adults hadn’t considered
The result? Confident young leaders, recognised for their expertise and taken seriously in spaces that had previously excluded them
2007: Young Advisors Charity launches
The pilots worked and demand grew well beyond the original areas. In 2007, Young Advisors became a registered charity, building a national network of trained young consultants
From local councils to national organisations, Young Advisors were helping decision-makers:
- Improve services for young people
- Make regeneration more inclusive
- Build stronger, more connected communities
2009: A sustainable model
When the new deal for communities ended in 2009, Young Advisors didn’t disappear
They had developed a self-sustaining social enterprise model that:
- Provided paid, meaningful work for young people
- Gave them skills in leadership, public speaking, and project delivery
- Created long-term impact in sectors from local government to private industry
By now, Young Advisors were not just influencing policy, they were changing the culture of how young people and adults work together
Now: Growing impact, growing voices
From 2009 onwards, Young Advisors expanded across the UK, training and supporting thousands of young people to shape decisions in their communities. Our projects have ranged from local council youth strategies to national campaigns influencing government policy.
We’ve partnered with charities, businesses, and public services, embedding youth voice into the heart of decision-making. Many Young Advisors have gone on to become community leaders, councillors, entrepreneurs, and advocates for change.
The network has continued to adapt to the challenges of the times from tackling climate change and mental health stigma, to supporting communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout, our commitment has remained the same: to ensure young people are not just consulted, but are active partners in creating a better future.
Today, Young Advisors is a national movement, driven by the belief that when young people lead, communities thrive.
Our story is still being written, and every Young Advisor is part of it.