Youth Steering Group
Impact stories: Israa
Name: Israa
Age joined the Youth Steering Group: 19
Home Region: London
Israa joined the FEA Youth Steering Group in 2023, aged 19, and graduated in 2026. During her time as a member of the Youth Steering Group, Israa has interviewed Coco Khan at the 2024 Youth Summit, took part in a Mental Health Coalition meeting, and spoke on the Jobs for Tomorrow panel at the 2025 FEA Annual Summit. Israa also gave her Maiden Speech in the House of Lords, calling for mental health reform in schools.
“I was speaking to my manager actually the other day and saying that it's so weird that two years ago I would have been so anxious to go in a room and speak in front of so many people, especially in a corporate setting. And now I don't even think twice about doing it. I feel quite confident. So personally and professionally, I feel like being on the YSG, has helped me a lot.”
Why did you join the Youth Steering Group (YSG)?
I joined the Youth Steering Group because I thought I lacked certain skills. I had a break after I finished my GCSEs, so when I started my apprenticeship, I thought I was quite behind compared to other people. I thought joining the YSG would obviously help me skill wise, but also I feel like I was very passionate about education and I thought I can change other people's experiences based on my negative experiences in school. I wanted to make sure that at least… I don't want to leave school and then leave that behind; I want to gain a positive light on education. And I wanted to build that change myself. So that was best of both worlds, I guess.
How have you found being on the Youth Steering Group overall?
My overall experience was incredibly positive. I didn't understand when I joined, I thought it was just like education. I didn't have that understanding that maybe I would gain certain skills that would help me professionally. So throughout my entire time I can see that I was developing both personally and professionally, but also just being able to learn about different things that I wouldn't have access to like speaking to people who are in care. That's actually one of the things I did with Bethel at the APPG for Children’s event. Just being in spaces where I can learn and develop, I thought was incredible. But also having that ability to make change and do change and see that result, because often things without Youth Steering Groups, you just do a survey and then you never hear back from it. But seeing that impact after was really nice. I felt that I was doing something worthwhile. I was doing something that was quite fulfilling, and that's quite important to me.
If you had to pick one thing that's been a highlight of your time on the Youth Steering Group, what would it be?
[The My Maiden] Speech [with Speakers Trust]. I do think that one. It not only helped me a lot. It's just that when I was told about it initially, I really didn't want to do it. As a matter of fact, I was crying saying that I didn't want to do it and I had so much anxiety even before starting that briefing session with Speakers Trust. Seeing myself develop after that and gain actual skills and being confident. But it was also something that's a major thing that could put on a CV that not many people can say they spoke at the House of Lords, especially […] when working in a client facing [role], communication is a massive part of my job. I thought that that benefited me but also it showed that major change between how I started on the Youth Steering Group and how I'm currently leaving.
What skills do you feel like you’ve developed during your time on the Youth Steering Group?
Communication definitely. I think communication and public speaking are two different things for me. And what else have I learned? I didn't have much filming experience, and sometimes I would film. So that was one as well, videography. Sometimes I would bug the people who are filming like the camera team, maybe the communications team and ask a bunch of questions. I do think I became more politically aware [too].
Seeing that personal development, seeing the skills that were gained throughout every single workshop or in person day or event in general, just attending them and pushing myself to go out my comfort zone when it comes to like public speaking and things like that. I was speaking to my manager actually the other day and saying that it's so weird that two years ago I would have been so anxious to go in a room and speak in front of so many people, especially in a corporate setting. And now I don't even think twice about doing it. I feel quite confident. So personally and professionally, I feel like being on the YSG, has helped me a lot.
What have you learned on the Youth Steering Group that you will take forward with you into your next steps?
One thing I've learned, I think [is that] my voice matters, and I shouldn't sit and be quiet as there’s other forms of communications. I can write towards a bulletin. I can post on social media. I can contact my MP if I have some concerns about a policy that I think directly affects me. And then also other avenues that I can take. And not thinking just because I'm quiet that even if I speak my voice isn't going to get heard. The act of lobbying in itself, like still pushing it. That's one thing I learned, being persistent and not giving up. Demanding answers is one thing I learned through the Youth Steering Group. I shouldn't feel like just because they're in a higher position that they can disregard that, because government is for people and I am part of the people.
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.