Youth Steering Group
Impact stories: S
Name: S
Age joined the Youth Steering Group: 18
Home Region: Midlands
S joined the FEA Youth Steering Group in 2023, aged 18. During their time on the Youth Steering Group, S has given a speech at the House of Lords, contributed to the Education Select Committee SEND Inquiry, hosted the 2025 FEA Annual Summit as MC, designed and led two workshops at the 2026 Youth Summit, and consulted with the Department for Education as part of the Our Wellbeing Our Voice Campaign with BeeWell and Anna Freud.
“I am doing an education degree as well, and I genuinely don't think I would be studying education if it wasn't for the FEA. I think you guys have massively changed my life in a very real way.”
Why did you join the Youth Steering Group (YSG)?
It was because I didn't have the most positive experience in Year 11 and pre diagnosis and of school, and I realised school's very not accessible. I saw this opportunity and I wanted to take it to try and make school more accessible.
If you had to pick one thing that’s been a highlight of your time on the Youth Steering Group, what would it be?
I would say probably the House of Lords experience. That was really cool. I think it came at a time where that massively did boost my confidence. It just was an amazing thing to experience.
What was your favourite part of the 2026 Youth Summit?
There were so many good parts. I felt like the session that I really created was the Theatre for Social Change session. I felt that was a bit of my baby and [since I study] the drama and education course at uni. It felt very relevant and very out there, and I put a lot of work into designing it. I was a bit worried about all the things that could go wrong: How would people engage with it? What if people weren't coming up with ideas. But the people in [the session] were really good. I was really happy with what they were creating. There are some things I would do differently now, reflecting, But I think that was a big highlight. I think all of it. I did enjoy every part of the day.
What skills do you feel like you’ve developed during your time on the Youth Steering Group?
I would say the biggest one and probably the most impactful one is independence. Independence is a massive one. When I joined, I would never have thought to be going to London and stuff alone. Through the group, it started with FEA team picking me up from the train station and taking me [to events] and I gradually gained more independence and navigating being in society alone, even if that's just for a day or you are supported with people. And now I'm at uni and genuinely I'm not sure I would be at uni without my time on the Fair Education Alliance and the things that went in to supporting me. Being able to go to London alone, being able to do these different events alone, that really did build my confidence and mainly my independence. I am doing an education degree as well, and I genuinely don't think I would be studying education if it wasn't for the FEA. I think you guys have massively changed my life in a very real way. That sounds very cheesy, but I do think it's very real.
What have you learned on the Youth Steering Group that you will take forward with you into your next steps?
I've learned a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. I have learned about different opportunities that are out there and how to be more involved in society and how to make change a bit better. I learn a lot from the other Youth Steering Group members. I learn about their experiences and the journeys they've taken and the things they're doing now, I think are all really cool. I've learned a lot.
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.