Engaging Young Voices in Democracy with Dan Lawes

In today’s fast-paced political landscape, ensuring young people have a voice is more crucial than ever. But how do we actually bridge the gap between disenfranchised youth and the political system?In this episode of the Time for Impact podcast, host Chris Wade sits down with Dan Lawes from My Life, My Say—a national charity focused on mobilising underrepresented young communities. Crucially, this isn't about adults speaking for the youth; it is a movement built entirely on the passion of young people volunteering their time to lead the charge.Dan shares his personal journey of grassroots, youth-led organising following the political shocks of 2016, and reveals how empowering young volunteer leaders is the secret to bringing an entire generation back to the democratic table.In this episode, we discuss:The 2016 Catalyst: How major political shifts like Brexit sparked a grassroots movement, driven entirely by young volunteers stepping up to engage 14,000 of their peers across the North West of England.The Power of Democracy Cafés: A look inside the innovative, peer-to-peer model where young people volunteer as trained facilitators to run community gatherings, identify local issues, and engage directly with policymakers.The Campaign for 'Vote 16': Why lowering the voting age could enfranchise 2.5 million young people, and how early inclusion creates lifelong habits of democratic participation and civic volunteering.Making Politics Relevant: Why traditional political outreach fails, and how youth-led, volunteer-driven initiatives successfully connect policymakers with young voters by focusing on real-world issues like housing, education, and the cost of living.Key TakeawayThe future of a healthy democracy relies on the active participation of young people. By stepping away from top-down outreach and empowering young volunteers to facilitate peer-to-peer discussions in their own communities, we can build a much more inclusive, representative, and resilient political system.About the Guest & OrganisationDan Lawes is a passionate advocate for youth democratic engagement with My Life, My Say (MLMS). MLMS is a youth-led, non-partisan charity heavily driven by the dedication of young volunteers, on a mission to empower their peers to participate in democracy and get their voices heard by decision-makers.This episode is proudly supported by the organisations championing the power of volunteering across the sector:Volunteers' Week: The annual celebration of the incredible contributions volunteers make across the UK.Investing in Volunteers: The UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.Volunteero: Volunteer management software helping charities streamline their processes and maximise their impact.*** Host: Chris WadeProduction: Time for Impact Ltd🤝 A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors