Youth Steering Group
Impact stories: Hayden
Name: Hayden
Age joined the Youth Steering Group: 19
Home Region: Midlands
Hayden joined the FEA Youth Steering Group in 2023, aged 19, and graduated in 2026. During his time on the Youth Steering Group, Hayden spoke at the IncludEd Conference with The Difference, attended the 2024 Conservative Party Conference, contributed to the inclusive education roundtable at Downing Street with the Prime Minister and Lewis Hamilton, presented at the Youth Affairs APPG to contribute to the DHSC Mental Health Strategy, and spoke on The Difference’s panel about inclusive education at the 2025 Liberal Democrats Party Conference.
“I feel like it shaped me as a person.”
Why did you join the Youth Steering Group (YSG)?
Well, my friend told me about it, and I didn't really know these types of things existed. I think initially he was [saying] “oh, we don't have any care leavers in our cohort, so you should do this thing.” And I was like, yeah, go on then, something to do. But then it just turned into something so much more than that. I feel like a lot of other people, they [have] more knowledge about stuff, but I wanted to see if I could in any way make a difference because, […] I don't want other people to go through what I went through.
How have you found being on the Youth Steering Group overall?
Brilliant. I feel like it shaped me as a person, to be honest, because I wouldn't have done this [in the past]. Like, I'm thinking [about] myself two years ago, my confidence has improved so much genuinely. I'm not a people person, I wouldn't speak about problems that I was having or, like, if I didn't do thing. But then being part of the FEA and coming to the meetings and training days and the other opportunities is just […] it boosts my confidence massively, but it's giving me skills that I can use to help me in the future as well.
If you had to pick one thing that’s been a highlight of your time on the Youth Steering Group, what would it be?
Oh, my gosh. Probably Downing Street, I can't lie. I remember when I was on train and I was just thinking to myself, like, I was picturing myself in year seven when issues started to happen. And I was like, well, now I'm speaking to the Prime Minister and Lewis Hamilton, other people as well. It was just surreal almost. It was crazy, because I've got more of a voice now than what I did. Yeah, Downing Street, definitely.
What skills do you feel like you’ve developed during your time on the Youth Steering Group?
Confidence, public speaking, networking […] Teamwork as well. I used to be a very, very, very reserved person, but I feel like I made friends at the FEA and I've [come out of] my shell a bit.
What have you learned on the Youth Steering Group that you will take forward with you into your next steps?
That what happened to me was important.
Our Youth Steering Group provides leadership on youth engagement across the Fair Education Alliance. Members are involved in the work across the Alliance, from collective action and policy influencing, to communications, events and support for our award winners.