Applications now open to join the Youth Steering Group
Following an incredible year for our Youth Steering Group - one in which members took on greater sector leadership than ever before - we are excited to open applications for the next cohort, and would be grateful for your support sharing the opportunity with the young people you work with.
“It has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. I felt really recognised and seen with my experiences. I’ve had so many opportunities to go to party conferences [and] also directly engage with ministers too. So being able to have that platform, it’s felt really really good being a part of the Youth Steering Group.”
Who is eligible to apply?
To join the Youth Steering Group a young person must:
Be passionate about reducing inequality in education.
Be aged between 14-21 on 1st August 2026.
Live in England and have been to school, college, or university in England.
Have faced one or more barriers to a fair education – find a list of example barriers in the Role Description.
Priority will be given to young people whose lived experience is underrepresented within the current Youth Steering Group cohort. Therefore, this year we particularly encourage applications from:
Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller young people,
Young men aged 14-17,
Young people who have not taken part in social action before,
Young people with experience of exclusion and/or alternative provision education settings,
Young people with physical disabilities,
Looked after young people and young people with experience of the care system,
Young people living in South Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region and the South West of England.
What do the Youth Steering Group (YSG) do?
The YSG work together to bring about change. They lead their own campaigns and events, ensure young people are heard by policy makers and are involved at all levels of FEA decision making.
In the last year alone, YSG members have presented to MPs in parliament, participated in a roundtable with the Prime Minister, led the Fair Education Youth Summit, served as youth judges for our MCA Collaboration Partners, shaped policy with the Department for Education, and chaired events at Party Conferences.
Beyond the headlines, members consistently report significant personal benefits from being part of the group too - read their own accounts in the Impact Stories on our website.
How you can support:
The Youth Steering Group is at its strongest when members come from a wide range of schools and programmes, so your help in spreading the word is invaluable.
Share this opportunity with your wider network by reposting it on social media. Visit the Fair Education Alliance on LinkedIn, Instagram or TikTok to view our posts.
Include the opportunity in your communications with young people. You can find a full Comms Pack here, including promotional materials for newsletters and social media.
Display this posterin your school, youth club or service setting.
The Youth Steering Group Role Description includes more information about the group, the benefits, member commitment, the application process and more.
We are also hosting three drop-ins on Zoom where young people can come to find out more, ask questions or get help with their application. They are open to everyone, and you can join at any time during the hour. They are:
Wednesday 6th May – 5-6pm – Register here.
Wednesday 27th May (in half term) - 12-1pm – Register here.
Friday 26th June- 5-6pm – Register here.
If you or any young people have questions, please get in touch by emailing youth@faireducation.org.uk or attending one of our three drop-in sessions listed above.
Thank you very much for your support.
Becca and Ellie
Youth Engagement Team
Fair Education Alliance