Our Young Advisor, Aaliyah, writes about the importance of sharing decision making and power with young people and the benefits this can have for an organisation. Aaliyah also reflects on moments she has felt truly included in decision making and the impact that this has had on her own development.
As a charity which supports young people, it is important that our work is shaped by young people’s needs and priorities. This keeps us authentic to our core belief to empower young people, helping us to be more effective and relevant in our work. We have developed The Diana Award Youth Charter as a set of guiding principles which outline our commitment to how we embed meaningful and inclusive youth voice in our work. Find out below about our journey to creating our Youth Charter, along with resources packed with top tips and case studies to help your organisation kickstart your youth voice journey.
As a young person working with The Diana Award, I’ve learned that sharing power with young people isn’t just important, it’s transformational. When organisations trust us with real decision-making power, it supports us to grow, feel heard, and genuinely be part of the change we want to see.
This principle is about going beyond just listening to young people - it’s about opening up decision-making spaces, preparing us for them, and making sure we’re actually shaping the outcomes. It’s about feeling like what we say truly matters - and seeing that reflected in the choices an organisation makes.
One experience that really showed me what this looks like in practice was when I was invited on a retreat with The Diana Award team to discuss the “A Space To Be Me” project. We weren’t just there to tick a box - —we were there to shape something meaningful. From the environment, to how the sessions were led, it felt like our insights were genuinely valued. It made me realise that when you’re in a space where your voice can influence things, it builds confidence, trust, and a deeper connection to the work.
We also worked on “A Guide to Co-Production”, and this was another moment where sharing power was more than just talk. We co-created something that other organisations could use - —something that would make participation more meaningful across the board. That experience gave me real ownership and pride. I wasn’t just part of a project; I was shaping a legacy of better youth involvement.
But it’s not just about being involved - it’s about how we’re involved. At The Diana Award, they make sure we’re briefed, supported, and informed. We’re given context, space to speak, and clarity on how decisions are made. And no matter the outcome, they always give feedback that helps you grow into your potential. That level of care and reflection makes a huge difference in how confident and equipped you feel moving forward.
Principle 5 reminds us that when organisations share power and decision making, young people aren’t just participants - we become partners. And when that happens, the work becomes more honest, more relevant, and more impactful.
Because in spaces where young people lead, real change happens.
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The Diana Award recently launched our first Youth Insights Report, focused on Youth Voice in Politics. To ensure youth involvement from the ground up, we involved Peer Researchers throughout the process to help connect us with the stories and experiences of young people. Follow Peer Researchers Gracie and Arthur, as they journey towards improving levels of youth engagement in politics and discuss the power of young people as facilitators, analysts, and champions for change.
International Youth Day, celebrated annually on 12 August, is a global celebration of the contributions, aspirations, and potential of young people around the world. It is a day of significance at The Diana Award, and to celebrate this year, we asked two young people from across our programmes to talk about a topic close to their hearts. This article, written by Iola Nkau, Co-producer on The Diana Award Young Changemakers Programme, highlights the difficulty young people have in finding and accessing GP services. The second article, written by Centre for Social Action Co-Designer, Obinna Emmanuel Ezeani, highlights the need for youth inclusion and diverse representation in decision-making processes.
