Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to (a) promote and (b) support the participation of young people in (i) youth charities and (ii) the voluntary sector in Devon.

This Government is committed to enabling effective youth participation in decision making at all levels. DCMS funded programmes such as the #iwill Fund, the UK Youth Parliament, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Uniformed Youth Fund support youth voice and youth social action in communities across the country.

Youth participation is at the heart of the recently announced National Youth Strategy, which will be co-produced with young people and published in the summer. It will better coordinate youth services, as well as move away from one-size-fits all approaches from central government, bringing power back to young people and their communities and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector.