Dear ,
I am writing to update you on the PSA's initiative that seeks to develop youth citizenship through the publication of a research-based and policy-focused report: Beyond the Youth Citizenship: Young People and Politics.
The volume draws on academic research to encourage the development of democratic participation and political literacy amongst young people. Leading UK researchers have written a range of short opinion pieces and policy proposals to encourage governments and political parties, from across the UK, to adopt more dynamic approaches to encouraging young people to get involved in politics.
The project is led by Professor Jon Tonge and Dr Andrew Mycock, who both served on the Youth Citizenship Commission formed by the last Labour government. As well discussing issues such as votes at 16, the volume focuses on how to better engage with female and ethnic minority young people, improve citizenship education, and reform political party politics to become more youth-centric.
The report can be accessed online here.
We are also hosting a series of blogs linked to the volume on the Democratic Audit blog site where politicians, youth citizenship organisations, young people, and teachers are contributing pieces that seek to engage with the policy proposals. The blogs can be read online by clicking here.
We are keen for PSA members to lead these debates and the project editors would be happy to discuss the potential for contributions on youth citizenship themes of 300-500 words in length.
We will be hosting a number of public events linked to the volume in the autumn in Westminster and around the UK involving PSA members, politicians, young people, and organisations such as the Hansard Society. We will of course keep you updated on the development of these exciting events and hope that some of you might be able to attend.
If you have any questions about the Beyond the Youth Citizenship Commission project, please do not hesitate to contact Dr Andrew Mycock (a.j.mycock@hud.ac.uk).
