We are looking forward to meeting the Summer Young England and Wales Programme delegates in early June (4th to 7th, Lancaster). Click here for more information. Our thoughts are now also turning to the Autumn and the annual Young Scotland Programme which will be held this year in Troon (30th September to 3rd October). Booking is now open – click here for all you need to know.

The first of two 2019 England and Wales Young Thinker of the Year titles went to Alice Green of Liverpool City Council at the Spring event. Alice's Argument paper on how our unwitting purchases can help to create terrible suffering in the world won praise for its 'quirky introduction, exceptional maturity and intellectual rigour...it was witty, warm and clearly written from the heart'. Freya Samuelson (Concern Worldwide UK) took the runner-up title, based partly on her 'incisive, articulate, thoughtful and stylish' paper on climate change. Julie Musesoglu (Homes England) was highly commended and Soruche Saajedi (Prison Reform Trust) was commended. Julie's 'passionate and well-informed' Argument advocated for educating children about LGBT inclusive lifestyles, and Soruche delivered a 'searching, sober and humane paper' on knife crime. Julie also won the award for Best 90 Second Challenge. Click here for photos.

London Borough of Brent is Young Local Authority of the Year 2019. The title was won by team members, Elaine Cleland-Awity and Emily Willmott. In one and a half intense days in early April, 36 teams of two from local authorities across the country each made three presentations in this demanding annual competition. Runners-up were Doncaster Council, represented by Dom Jeffrey and Rebecca Rowbottom. Norwich City Council (Josh Aldred and Alexander Giddings) was highly commended and London Borough of Lewisham (Caroline Dart and Charlotte Parish) and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (Rosie Murphy and Sarah Towey) were both commended. Click here for photos.