Become a
Civic Youth Leader Today

WHO ARE THE CIVIC YOUTH LEADERS?

We are a group of young people who are shaping the direction of youth civic engagement across Greater Manchester. We are passionate about ensuring young people’s voices are heard and acted upon across decision-making roles in our region.

Our goal is to inspire and support other young people, especially those from underrepresented communities, to step into civic leadership roles like school governors, trustees, magistrates, youth board members, and more. We need to ensure young people know these roles exist and that they can access them. Young people need to have a real say in decisions that affect their lives and their communities.

Civic roles are jobs that people do to help run our community. They help make decisions about things that affect all of us – like schools, parks, prisons, hospitals, transport, and how safe we feel in our neighbourhoods.

WHAT DO CIVIC YOUTH LEADERS DO?

We are focusing on five key areas that will help us grow as leaders and create real change:

• Deliver the Resource
  We are delivering and supporting the use of the ‘Empowering Young Citizens: The Future is Now!’ resource pack in schools, youth groups, and communities.
• Develop Our Skills
  We are taking part in workshops on leadership, communication, and event planning, building skills that will support us now and in the future.

• Support Each Other into Civic Roles
  We are exploring real-life civic leadership opportunities, connecting with organisations, and supporting each other to step into roles like school governors, trustees, and youth board members.

• Lead a Campaign for Young People in Civic Roles
  We are designing and running a campaign to encourage more young people across Greater Manchester to get involved in civic leadership.

• Work with the Adult Civic Leaders Programme
  We are building relationships with the adult Civic Leaders in the We Lead for Legacy Programme who sit alongside us. Both programmes are backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester to build inclusive civic leadership across generations and communities, learning from their experiences, making connections, and showing them the value of youth leadership.

Throughout the year, we will check in on our personal growth and progress, ensuring we are developing our confidence and skills along the way.

WHAT DOES YOUR ENGAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? 

We each have an equal voice. To strengthen engagement and maximise impact, we can support areas based on interests, expertise, and availability, such as: 

• Recruitment – Supporting outreach, interviews, and onboarding of new members.
• Communications – Helping with social media, sharing insights, and promoting the programme.
• Advocacy – Driving policy discussions, campaign planning, and engaging with decision-makers.

We meet once or twice a month in person, with additional virtual check-ins where needed. Sessions take place in unique venues across Greater Manchester, and focus on civic skills, leadership development, project planning, and campaign work.

WHAT YOUTH LEADS UK ASK OF YOU

As a Civic Youth Leader, we ask that you:

• Show Up and Get Involved: Attend meetings and actively contribute.
• Support Recruitment: Help us grow the group by reaching out to your networks, targeting underrepresented boroughs (Tameside, Bury, Trafford), and helping with the recruitment process (videos, taster sessions).
• Champion Civic Roles: Inspire other young people to step into civic leadership, both online and in your communities.
• Deliver and Evaluate the Resource: Support schools, youth groups, and partners to use the resource, and help gather feedback to ensure it stays useful.
• Lead and Learn: Take part in training, skills workshops, and civic opportunities, and support each other’s growth.
• Drive the Campaign: Help plan and deliver campaigns to get more young people into civic roles.

If you miss three consecutive meetings without communication, you may be asked to step down as a Civic Youth Leader.

SUPPORTING YOU

Youth Leads UK is committed to the personal and professional development of every Civic Youth Leader. We will support you by:

• Ensure every young person can have their say and influence the group’s work.
• Listen to your ideas and feed them back to decision-makers.
• Provide wraparound support with planning, meetings, and tasks.
• Support you with travel and food costs to ensure participation is always accessible.
• Offer training and leadership opportunities both within and beyond the project.
• Helping you connect with the We Lead for Legacy Programme for further guidance and mentoring.

YOUTH LEADS UK & CIVIC YOUTH LEADERS COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER

We agree to:

• Respect each other’s ideas and experiences.
• Create a safe, supportive space where everyone feels valued.
• Be open and honest. If you’re struggling, just ask for help.
• Lead by Example: we are here to show what youth leadership can achieve.
• Enjoy the Journey: this is about learning, growing, and creating change together.

Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse generation of civic leaders across Greater Manchester.

Most importantly, we are here to enjoy the process, make an impact, and support each other in building a better future.

This is an exciting, ongoing initiative led by Youth Leads UK and backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and will look incredible on your long, ongoing list of achievements. We believe you’re the perfect match to become a Civic Youth Leader and would love to have you on board!

If you have any questions or would like a chat, please reach out to our Youth Engagement Lead, Abeer Abdul Aziz, at abeer@youthleads.uk, or just sign up below!