Youth Steering Group
Impact stories: Jayden
Name: Jayden
Age joined the Youth Steering Group: 19
Home Region: North West
Jayden joined the FEA Youth Steering Group in 2023, aged 19, and graduated in 2026. During his time on the Youth Steering Group, Jayden has led our Youth Town Hall at the Labour Party Conference, appeared on a Department for Education event panel, attended the Anthropy Emerging Leaders conference, led a zine workshop at the 2024 Youth Summit and a youth voice workshop at the 2026 Youth Summit, and spoke at an EPI roundtable with the Secretary of State. He has also interviewed comedian Nish Kumar and journalist Coco Khan on their podcast about the challenges young people face in the education system.
“You don't have to be an adult to have power.”
How have you found being on the Youth Steering Group (YSG) overall?
I've really enjoyed being part of the Youth Steering Group. I do think the work that the Youth Steering Group has done has been really impactful and highlighted not just the socio-economic [factors] […] but all the different experiences that are in the education system and how vastly different outcomes can be just based on even just a single barrier to a fair education, never mind numerous. I definitely think I’ve done what I wanted to do with them. I do feel very content with what I’ve done with the Youth Steering Group.
What is your 2025/26 Youth Steering Group highlight?
The Youth Summit was really, really fun, and it was a great way to be with other people. But also, I really enjoyed the Youth Town Hall for the Labour Party Conference. It was really nice to do that back in Liverpool and my mum got to come along, so she was quite happy seeing what I do and things that the FEA does.
What do you think has been the Youth Steering Group’s most impactful activity?
I definitely think it is the Youth Summit. With how big the turnout is and the range of sessions that are put on. I just think across the board it ticks everything off in terms of obviously the Youth Steering Group are developing the skills that they want for their particular interests within the education sector, but also motivating people to get involved in grassroots organisations or organise between themselves, get involved in whatever it is and just giving people the skills to go forward and do it. It connects people, it motivates people and it probably gives people, especially young people, the confidence to go and do something when either they feel like they might not have that much direction on how to get involved in different spaces, or even being like, you can do it and having somebody as an example of you don't have to be an adult to have power, essentially. Across the board, it is just so effective.
What skills do you feel like you’ve developed during your time on the Youth Steering Group?
Definitely, in particular settings, public speaking skills. When I first joined, I was always very nervous, robotic. I mean, as you can tell, I have a tendency to waffle. In some situations, it's not the time and place for a waffle, you know what I mean? When it comes to the more formal settings, I have noticed that overall I am better at it, I’m not as robotic or having to have a word-for-word script of what I’m saying. There are still improvements that can be made but I’m very happy with what I came in with [compared] to what I’m leaving with.
What have you learned on the Youth Steering Group that you will take forward with you into your next steps?
There are so many elements of what I’ve done with the Youth Steering Group that are very useful and important. Because I’ve been exposed to more experiences than what I had been without it [the Youth Steering Group], I am more empathetic. I was anyway because of my experiences and the experiences of my peers, but the Youth Steering Group is very diverse, so I’ve learnt a lot about what it’s like to be a care leaver [for example]. I am neurodivergent, but different people have individual needs, and [I’ve learnt about] different ways to be neurodivergent in the education system and regional stuff, so I’m more empathetic.
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.