Our statement on new DCMS Civil Society and Youth Minister, Nigel Huddleston MP
18 October 2021
On Friday 8th October, Nigel Huddleston was confirmed as the new DCMS Parliamentary Under Secretary for Civil Society responsible for Youth Policy.
Rosemary Watt-Wyness, our Chief Executive, said:
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Nigel Huddleston, MP as Minister for Civil Society and Youth Policy, sitting alongside his existing DCMS Ministerial portfolio of Sports, Tourism and Heritage.
As a leader for London’s youth sector representing thousands of dedicated youth workers and the community-led organisations who support them, London Youth is the voice of young Londoners. We champion sports and the arts as powerful catalysts of change for young people in our capital city to become the best that they can be. Whilst there are natural synergies in this wide DCMS ministerial remit London Youth continues to advocate for a dedicated Minister for Youth Policy and Young People with a cross-Whitehall remit. We believe in the importance of an integrated policy framework in support of our next generation’s education, skills, mental health and employment opportunities.
This is a critical juncture for the UK’s ailing youth sector and those small charities who are the backbone of our communities. All across London community youth services have fought valiantly during the pandemic to support young people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing, providing positive opportunities and those vital safe spaces. Every young person deserves to benefit from high quality and open access youth services. All of us share a collective duty to ensure that they do. We look forward to see how these priorities are reflected and resourced in the upcoming Youth Strategy and Spending Review later this month.
We would be delighted to share with our new Minister the work of our 600+ member youth organisations across London, their perspectives on the current policy landscape, and collaborating to support young Londoners in the future.”
For more information, contact Clare MacNamara, London Youth Policy Manager: clare.macnamara@londonyouth.org
