YMCA Youth Ambassador Programme
YMCA Youth Ambassador Programme
Bringing together young people from YMCAs across England & Wales, Youth Ambassadors actively represent the opinions, needs and beliefs of young people. They help shape the policies we focus on, attend national and international events, and act as spokespeople for youth voices within the organisation.
Nominated by local YMCAs, Youth Ambassadors are passionate about improving the lives of young people, and want to use their experience and knowledge to be the voice for effective, meaningful change.
They are aged 18-30 and must already be involved in their local YMCA in some capacity. That could be as a staff member, service user or volunteer.
Being a Youth Ambassador is a commitment, but one worth taking, and accompanied by high-quality training and opportunities to develop skills for success. To be part of the programme, young people must be keen to contribute their thoughts, with a desire to make a difference.
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Putting young people at the heart of what we do.
Being a Youth Ambassador
Youth Ambassadors are offered a diverse range of training courses across the year to help them become fully rounded ambassadors.
In previous years this has included:
Meet one of our Youth Ambassadors – Sade Walters, YMCA St Paul’s Group
“When I was invited to join the Youth Ambassador team, I was serving as a Resident Representative for YMCA St Paul’s Group. I saw the opportunity as a natural next step – a way to broaden my impact and help ensure young people are genuinely heard, seen and
understood.”
“Through training sessions, ongoing discussions and peer collaboration, the programme has deepened my understanding of both the shared and distinct challenges facing our communities. It has strengthened my leadership and advocacy skills, which I now apply
in my role as a World YMCA Change Agent and through my continued volunteering with YMCA St Paul’s Group. I have also valued the opportunity to contribute at a strategic level through participation in the YMCA SPG Youth Project Board.”
“I am proud of what the Youth Ambassador team has achieved and the resilience we have shown together. I would strongly encourage anyone considering joining to take that step. You will connect with new people, learn from diverse experiences and play a meaningful role in shaping a better future for young people.”
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Our Youth Ambassadors act as the leading representatives and propel the voices of young people within YMCA England & Wales.
Youth Ambassadors: Impact
2025
Youth Ambassadors played a visible role in our youth services funding campaign,
engaging directly with parliamentarians and sharing first-hand experience of the impact of funding decisions on young people and youth workers. Youth Ambassadors were also integral to the Make Work Pay campaign, which ended in a huge win for young people in supported housing.
They represented YMCA internationally – both at YMCA Europe’s General Assembly, and the European Youth Representative Network gathering in Brussels – contributing to discussions about the future of youth policy across the continent.
At the same time, the programme invested in debate and public speaking training,
equipping Ambassadors with the skills to advocate with clarity.
2024
Youth Ambassadors continued to play an active role in shaping national conversations affecting young people. They represented YMCA at major political party conferences and democratic participation events.
They also contributed to discussions linked to the development of the Government’s National Youth Strategy, feeding in lived experience and frontline insight to influence policy direction.
Youth Ambassadors also represented YMCA at high-profile national moments and
sector roundtables, while leading community-based activities for our Small Talks campaign, during World Mental Health Day. Alongside this outward-facing work, they undertook governance and leadership development training, strengthening their ability and understanding of being a trustee.
2023
Youth Ambassadors have been involved in the co-chairing of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) on Youth Affairs and recently launched an inquiry into the skills gap and youth employment, joining MPs and other young people to discuss challenges facing young people right now.
Some of our Youth Ambassadors have had the chance to meet with their international colleagues at the recent YMCA Europe General Assembly, collaborating to support young people to be at the centre of YMCA’s vision for the future.
2022
Youth Ambassadors were involved in collecting postcards from housing residents who were writing to their MP about the impact of the Cost of Living crisis. The result: MPs heard about the experiences of young people and the Government listened, supporting our recommendations to increase Universal Credit in line with inflation.
Youth Ambassadors also represented YMCA England & Wales at both the Conservative and Labour party conferences in the Autumn speaking with MPs on panels and at reception events.
