Shaping the future of youth provision in Merton, together.

​The National Youth Strategy workshop last Thursday brought real energy into the room and showed just how strong and connected Merton’s youth sector is.

Hosted by Merton Connected and the Merton Youth Partnership, the event welcomed over 70 delegates from across the borough. People came from every corner of the sector. Volunteer Scout leaders, frontline youth workers, local authority officers, and CEOs of long-established organisations were all part of the same conversation

In total, more than 40 local voluntary and community organisations were represented.
The day focused on what the newly published National Youth Strategy really means for Merton, and how we respond together. Through keynote talks, shared learning and practical discussion, the room moved quickly from policy to action.
We heard powerful perspectives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Youth Team, Pauline Daniyan - CEO of London Youth, Keith Shipman from Merton London Borough Council, and Christopher Murray - CEO of the YPF Trust. Their contributions grounded the national picture in local reality and reinforced the importance of partnership, inclusion and youth voice.
Alongside the speakers, delegates took part in hands-on workshops and peer-led discussions. There was space to question, challenge, and share what is already working, as well as what needs to change. 
The focus throughout was clear:

•  How we align as a local youth sector
• How we strengthen outcomes for young people.
• How we turn a national strategy into meaningful and realistic local action

The National Youth Strategy, informed by the experiences of over 14,000 young people across England, sets out both the pressures facing this generation and their ambitions for the future. This event showed that Merton is ready to meet that challenge collectively.

Thank you to everyone who brought their time, insight and commitment. This was not a one-off conversation. It was a strong step towards shaping the future of youth provision in Merton, together.