Insights from the FEA Youth Summit 2024

By Fairy and John, members of EY Foundation’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB)

On October 29, we attended the Fair Education Alliance (FEA) Youth Summit—a dynamic gathering of young leaders, educators, and policymakers, to empower young people by building essential skills, fostering discussions on policy change, and equipping us with practical tools for advocacy. It was exciting to connect with others passionate about levelling the educational playing field, many of whom, like us, come from low socio-economic backgrounds and bring unique insights and experiences to the mission. As members of the EY Foundation’s YAB working to break down barriers for young people entering the workplace, we attended to expand our skills, deepen our understanding of educational barriers, and bring new perspectives to our roles: Fairy as Communications Rep, and John as Digital Rep. 

Our Key Sessions and Takeaways

Fairy’s Sessions: Building Skills and Confidence

One of my first sessions was with Debate Mate, an organisation dedicated to improving debating skills in schools across Britain, particularly for students from deprived areas. As a Debate Mate mentor myself, it was a full-circle moment to see the work in action and recognise familiar faces from the team. It was inspiring to see young attendees as young as 13 y/o learning to vocalise their thoughts for positive change, showing how early mentorship can empower the next generation of advocates.

The session on imposter syndrome and burnout also struck a chord. As a law student aiming to enter a competitive field, I’m aware of the pressures that can lead to self-doubt and fatigue. This session reminded me of the importance of balancing personal emotions with professional advocacy—managing my well-being to avoid burnout so that I can remain effective in the long term and able to better support those I’m advocating for.

John’s Sessions: Content Creation and Digital Innovation

In the content creation session, I learned from a seasoned journalist who shared her experiences facing classist attitudes in the media industry. As an “elite” profession, journalism often feels closed off to those from less privileged backgrounds, which parallels challenges in other sectors. The session sparked meaningful discussions around the role of politics and class in media and how these dynamics influence opportunities for young people. I left feeling even more committed to my role as Digital Rep, where my goal is to break down these digital barriers and create online spaces that are inclusive and accessible to all young people.

Later, I joined a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Department of Education and Ofsted. Hearing from leaders in government and education who are actively working to incorporate the latest innovations into their programs was both exciting and relevant to my role. It was encouraging to hear that key decision-makers recognise the potential of digital approaches to enhance educational accessibility.

Joint Sessions: Policy Change and Campaigning

We both attended sessions focused on policy change and campaigning, which were invaluable. In the policy change session, we explored how young people can actively influence legislation and impact laws, breaking down what often feels like an impenetrable process into something achievable. Understanding the pathway from advocacy to policy was empowering, and it reinforced our belief that young voices can shape policy in meaningful ways.

The campaigning session was equally insightful. We looked at examples of successful campaigns, analysing what made them impactful and areas where they could improve. This was a fantastic opportunity to refine our skills, learning how to craft a campaign that resonates while avoiding common pitfalls like overextending or losing focus. These sessions gave us tools to drive advocacy more effectively in our work as YAB members and beyond.

Linking Our Experience to Our Role at EY Foundation

Fairy:
As Communications Rep, I focus on creating and maintaining strong connections between young people and the foundation, even after they graduate from our programs. The experience with Debate Mate’s mentorship program and the session on imposter syndrome made me reflect on how essential it is to manage personal challenges while advocating for others. It’s helped me refine my approach to how we, as the YAB, can reach out to young people, and foster these connections to incorporate a young person’s perspective into every aspect of our work.

John:
I was particularly inspired by the discussions about technology and innovation in education. It made me realise that digital tools have so much potential to make career resources more accessible, especially for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. This really energised me to think about how I can leverage online platforms to create more inclusive spaces for young people to engage with.

Final Thoughts: The Importance of Youth Networks

One of the most powerful aspects of the FEA Youth Summit was witnessing the strength of youth networks. Being part of a collective voice was a reminder that the power of change grows exponentially when young people work together. These connections, whether with peers or with leaders in policy and education, allow us to combine our efforts, insights, and experiences to drive change.

In a world that often overlooks young voices, the FEA Youth Summit highlighted our potential to create change together. At EY Foundation, our mission is to break down workplace barriers, and by building connections with organisations tackling educational inequality, we can expand opportunities and boost success for young people nationwide.