We must tap into the talents of the Obama Generation

Youth leadership is crucial to success of UK institutions

Many of society’s ills can be tackled by tapping into the energies and talents of the ‘Obama generation’ of young people in the UK, but without reforms much of that talent is going to waste.

That’s the stark message from a new report into youth leadership published today by The Youth of Today. Taking the lead: Youth leadership in theory and practice is aimed at policymakers and practitioners. It was authored by Lauren Kahn, Sarah Hewes and Rushanara Ali of the Young Foundation.

What the authors uncovered was:

• Where old systems and institutions (such as parliament, or local councils) are in crisis, engaging young people and young leaders can revive and renew them.
• Youth leadership programmes benefit wider society as well as the individual young people – but youth leadership is often seen as “good for young people” but rarely thought of as “good for society”.
• Today’s politicians and civic leaders must open up their organisations to young people, to nurture the next generation of leaders. Adults must open access and cede power to young people, whose innovation and entrepreneurship can be powerful catalysts for positive change.

Taking the lead critically investigates youth leadership, bringing together experts’ views and best practice from around the world. Drawing on a large body of evidence, Taking the lead offers valuable lessons for both practitioners and policymakers.

Taking the lead is the first of three publications to be written by the Young Foundation as a part of The Youth of Today’s programme of global research into youth leadership.

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