What is the Reading Youth Council?
We are a group of elected representatives for the young people of Reading, who campaign on issues that have been highlighted both locally and nationally. We also get involved in projects.
We make a difference by voicing all our opinions to the decision makers. Some of the things we do include:
Being part of Reading Youth Council means joining a passionate, driven community of young leaders shaping real change in Reading. It’s your chance to have a genuine say on the issues that matter, to influence decision-makers, launch meaningful campaigns, and grow into the change maker you want to be. Along the way, you’ll develop invaluable skills, boost your confidence, and strengthen your CV and personal statement with real-world impact that sets you apart.
To find out more, message us on Instagram @readingyouthcouncil
So get involved and make a difference!
Elections
The next election cycle will be in December 2025 follow us on Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn @readingyouthcouncil to keep up to date on all things RYC!
About the Youth Council
Like anything worthwhile, the more you put in, the more you’ll gain. The time you spend on Youth Council varies depending on your responsibilities and how involved you choose to be. While meetings are where most group collaboration takes place, there’s often not enough time to complete everything during those sessions. Outside of meetings, you may find yourself writing risk assessments, preparing presentations or speeches, creating social media content, emailing organisations, or attending external events to represent RYC.
We never expect anyone to put Youth Council above their school or college commitments – your education comes first. During exam seasons, we’ve introduced a study leave system to give you space to focus on your studies when needed.
Our meetings are structured around an agenda created by the Chair, who also leads the sessions. We usually split our time between focused campaigns or project work in smaller groups, with whole council discussions to share ideas and updates. We often meet with key contacts from Reading Borough Council to report on our progress, get advice, and ask for their support where needed.
For 2025–2026, we’re focusing on three major youth-led campaigns: Health & wellbeing, political education, and media literacy. Each campaign tackles key issues that matter to young people in Reading, with projects ranging from organising events and developing resources to running awareness campaigns and proposing policy changes.
Alongside these, we run smaller committees like our Social Media team, which manages our Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts to keep our outreach strong and engaging. We also run The Platform Project: a programme for Years 7–10 that helps build public speaking and debate skills, boost confidence and encouraging youth voice from an early age.
Formally known as the British Youth Council before its acquisition in March 2024 by the National Youth Agency, the NYC connects youth councils and organisations across the UK and the RYC work closely with them.
Every other year, we elect an MYP (Member of Youth Parliament) who represents us within the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP), including in the annual debate in the House of Commons as well as in other projects, like the Youth Select Committee inquiry into social media and youth violence. The UKYP also offers us opportunities like YouthCon: annual regional conferences where youth councils come together to share ideas, build skills, and connect with other young leaders.
These events provide us opportunities to strengthen our teamwork and communication skills, and broaden our horizons by working with our counterparts from different constituencies. Not only is this an excellent learning opportunity, but it is also great fun!
Follow us on our social media accounts to get a feel for what we do, to keep up to date with what’s happening in your area, and how to get involved.
We are a strong elected voice, representing the young people of Reading. It is a very effective way for young people to communicate with decisions makers, to have our say and have influence on decisions which affect us and other young people.
To learn more about the role and purpose of Reading Youth Council, you can read our constitution here.