YOUTH LEADS UK CEO APPOINTED TO GOVERNMENT CIVIL SOCIETY COUNCIL
Saeed Atcha MBE DL, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Leads UK, has been appointed to the new Civil Society Council, established by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to strengthen partnership between government and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
The Civil Society Council brings together senior leaders from across charities, social enterprises, philanthropy, faith and community organisations to support closer collaboration with government on some of the country’s most pressing social challenges. The Council will oversee the implementation of the Civil Society Covenant and help shape how government works alongside the sector to design and deliver public policy and services.
The Council will be chaired by Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), and will meet quarterly in Downing Street.
Saeed founded Youth Leads UK at the age of 15 and has spent more than a decade championing youth leadership and social mobility. Under his leadership, the organisation has empowered tens of thousands of young people through leadership programmes, social action initiatives and opportunities to influence decision-making.
Speaking about the appointment, Saeed Atcha MBE DL, CEO of Youth Leads UK, said:
“I’m proud to join the Civil Society Council and bring a youth-led perspective to the conversation. Civil society plays a vital role in creating opportunities and strengthening communities.
It is important that the voices and experiences of young people are reflected in decisions that shape the future. I look forward to working with fellow Council Members and Government to strengthen the partnership with the sector and maximise the impact civil society can have across the country.”
The establishment of the Civil Society Council marks a renewed commitment to collaboration between government and civil society organisations in tackling complex issues, including social cohesion, community resilience and public service delivery.
For Youth Leads UK, the appointment reflects the growing recognition of the importance of youth voice and youth-led leadership within national policy conversations.
A full list of Council members is set out below:
- Kate Lee OBE (Chair) – CEO of NCVO
- Matt Hyde OBE – CEO of Lloyds Bank Foundation
- Gemma Peters – CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support
- Dame Clare Moriarty – CEO of Citizens Advice
- Mark Russell OBE – CEO of The Children’s Society
- Emma de Closset – CEO of UK Community Foundations
- Charlotte Hill OBE – CEO of The Felix Project
- Bishop Rob Wickham – CEO of the Church Urban Fund
- Dr Tessy Ojo CBE – CEO of The Diana Award
- Maddy Desforges OBE – CEO of NAVCA
- Saeed Atcha MBE DL – CEO of Youth Leads UK
- Innes Morgan – Director and Founder of Act with Purpose
- Dr Lindsay Cordery-Bruce – CEO of WCVA
