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Our Blog

  1. National Youth Agency Head of Policy, Alex Stutz, Postive for Youth

    01 Feb 12

    ‘Businesses and other employers are key members of the community… At national and local level an increasing number of businesses see a robust business case...


  2. New Year Comment from NYA Chief Executive Fiona Blacke

    03 Jan 12

    The challenges for young people, particularly those at risk of exclusion, have never been greater and across the country cuts in public expenditure have disproportionately...


  3. Comment from National Youth Agency chief executive Fiona Blacke on the riots that have taken place across the country this week

    10 Aug 11

    “My colleagues at the National Youth Agency and I have been shocked by the outbreak of riots in London and major cities across the country. Once...


  4. The Apprentice - A Personal View From Fiona Blacke, National Youth Agency Chief Executive

    17 May 11

    There is huge satisfaction when you see someone who has held a traineeship in your organisation gain national recognition and that’s certainly what we feel...


  5. Why England Needs a Youth Card - Belinda Fumai

    31 Mar 11

    A few weeks ago on the 9th of March I found myself at a European Youth Card Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. My mission was to find...


  6. NYA Development Officer Amanda Fearn: "The More We Share, The More We Have"

    08 Mar 11

    Leonard Nimoy once said: “The more we share, the more we have.” In testing times it is good to have friends. A problem shared is...


  7. Engagement Network Blog - Emma Morgan No. 2

    17 Feb 11

    The second time we arranged to meet up was for a run through of the questions that we would like to ask and to talk...


  8. Engagement Network Blog - Emma Morgan

    17 Feb 11

    On the first day we all went to Connexions in Shoebury and there we met a lady called Wendy, she told us about what was...


  9. Engagement Network Blog - Alex Boocock, 17 from Bradford

    16 Aug 10

    Alex Boocock  is 17, classed as NEET and from Bradford Tell us about your experience of being NEET I felt there weren’t enough opportunities for young people...


  10. Engagement Network Blog - Frances Clancy, 18 from Bradford

    16 Aug 10

    Frances Clancy is 18, a young mother and from Bradford Tell about your experience of being NEET I felt as though I had no one to give...


  11. Engagement Network Blog - Kyle Moore, 17 from Bradford

    16 Aug 10

    Kyle Moore is 17 and from Bradford Tell us about your experience of being NEET I felt like you had nothing to do but I did have...


  12. Young People Dispel Stereotypes with Pure Aspiration – Comment from Fiona Blacke

    12 Aug 10

    I have just read with interest the findings launched by the Jack Petchey Foundation, which has undertaken extensive research into the aspirations and motivations of...


  13. National Youth Agency Welcomes International Year of Youth

    10 Aug 10

    United Nations International Year of Youth – launching on 12 August 2010 10 August 2010 National Youth Agency chief executive Fiona Blacke has welcomed the start of the...


  14. Zach, 18, a musician, entrepreneur and classed as NEET

    15 Jul 10

    Zach is 18 and involved in the Engagement Network Project in Cumbria, He is a care leaver and although classed as NEET describes himself as...


  15. The sound of music

    14 Jul 10

    NYA Comment By Andy HopkinsonChildren & Young People Now13 July 2010 In the summertime, when the living is easy, everyone should try to get along to...


  16. National Youth Agency Trainee to Help Others by Sharing Experiences

    16 Jun 10

    National Youth Agency trainee Jodie McNamara has been invited to share the story of how she has turned her life around, at a celebratory evening...


  17. Safeguarding young people

    13 May 10

    We need to rethink and strengthen some of our approaches Whatever the outcome of the charges being brought against a former employee, in the National Youth...


  18. And now, the good news

    06 Apr 10

    How lovely to have some good news...  I’m thinking about Think Big, the new and exciting project we’re working on with O2, which was launched the...


  19. Report on meeting of the National Youth Agency Participation Strategy Review Group

    22 Feb 10

    On Tuesday 16th February I attended the first meeting of the NYA Participation Strategy Review Group. The group is made up of NYA staff and...


  20. Hard hitting facts on abuse

    18 Feb 10

    Is it okay to hit your girlfriend or boyfriend if they have been flirting with someone else? Well is it? This is the question being posed...


  21. What price can you place on a smile?

    10 Feb 10

    The smiles of two young boys for their mothers as they were rescued in Haiti recently moved many. It brought to mind a moment nearly...


  22. What happens next?

    03 Feb 10

    Is there a role for the UK youth sector to play in Haiti's reconstruction? Civil society responded to the emergency by giving generously. We sent medics,...


  23. 100 people join the NYA Associate Register!

    25 Jan 10

    The National Youth Agency has had a fantastic response from applicants keen to join its new Associate Network. Nearly 100 applications have already been received...


  24. Shine at Youth Led Media Summit

    21 Dec 09

    Bringing together inspiring, creative young people who want to make a difference and express and share their talents is an energising experience. Amanda Miller reports on...


  25. Dominique's blog from the CYPN Awards

    14 Dec 09

    Dominique Mitchell, one of the young judges at the recent Children and Young People Now Awards, recounts an enjoyable night out. I was honoured to be...


  26. Daughters to Work Day

    14 Dec 09

    Read Laura Hargrave's blog about the day she spent shadowing her Dad at the National Youth Agency On the 11th of December for ‘Daughters to Work...


  27. Belinda's blog

    09 Nov 09

    Hi, my name is Belinda Fumai! I applied to do some work experience at the National Young Agency because I did an internship here in summer...


  28. Young People SHINE!

    06 Nov 09

    Last night I attended an event at the House of Lords to mark the official handover of Shine from the Talent and Enterprise Taskforce to...


  29. Volunteering a Hot Topic for Opinion Formers

    23 Oct 09

    Hot on the heels of the launch of the new-look NYA this week, we have been showcasing our new brand and services at the Local...


  30. A new NYA

    22 Oct 09

    It is not very often that you get to re-launch an organisation but this week that’s what we’ve been doing. This isn’t just a coat...


  31. Re-Launch Sees Young People Jump for Joy

    20 Oct 09

    Holly Draper's blog In the quiet of the NYA offices today it feels like the calm after the storm. Yesterday our building was bustling with new faces...


  32. What’s in a name?

    13 Oct 09

    Teachers can identify naughty pupils minutes into their first day of school – just by looking at the classroom register, a study has revealed. That at...


  33. I’m Backing Britain (again)

    06 Oct 09

    I’m just about old enough (okay then, I’m easily old enough) to remember the original ‘I’m Backing Britain’ campaign, which flourished in early 1968. But...


  34. Hitting a high note

    29 Sep 09

    Last week saw the start of the Government supported National Year of Music.  As one of those who never quite got around to mastering musical...


  35. A climate of change

    22 Sep 09

    Everywhere I look at the moment I see the words Climate Change. Open my newspaper and there’s China pledging its commitment to fight climate change by...


  36. Community connection

    15 Sep 09

    Party political conferences? Strictly Come Dancing or the X Factor? Or a night out with your mates? Or none of the above? Which would you...


  37. Don’t miss the bus

    08 Sep 09

    Speak to any youth council or group of young people and it won’t be long before the vexed issue of transport comes up – usually...