Croydon Council Commissions P4YE Youth Voice Scheme Croydon 2026

Key Points

• Croydon Council has commissioned Project 4 Youth Empowerment (P4YE) to run a new borough-wide Youth Voice Programme to increase young people’s participation in civic decision-making.
• The programme will be delivered through local schools and youth groups, covering topics including council budgets, local elections and community facilities.
• Young participants will have the opportunity to join three initiatives: a Youth Steering Group, a Youth Voice Forum and an annual Youth Voice Symposium.
• The first Croydon Youth Voice Symposium is scheduled for February 2027 and will celebrate the achievements of local young people.
• Local leaders described the programme as a step towards greater co-production in local government and changing public perceptions of young people in the borough.

Croydon (South London News) August 28, 2026 – Croydon Council has formally commissioned Project 4 Youth Empowerment (P4YE) to establish a new civic participation scheme designed to grant young residents a direct role in local authority decision-making.

As reported in the official announcement published by the Croydon Council Press Office, P4YE has rolled out the Youth Voice Programme across the London Borough of Croydon. The initiative is set to offer targeted workshops and specialized training sessions in educational institutions and community youth groups. These educational modules are designed to equip young people with a practical understanding of municipal governance, covering key areas such as council budget allocations, local electoral systems, and the management of local community facilities.

The overarching initiative forms a key element of the Executive Mayor’s broader policy agenda to integrate youth perspectives directly into local policy formation and local service development.

What Are The Three Main Initiatives Included In The Scheme?

As outlined by the Croydon Council Press Office, young people who complete the training modules will have the opportunity to participate in three newly structured municipal pathways:

1. The Youth Steering Group: A dedicated panel of young people tasked with collaborating directly with local leaders and municipal decision-makers to co-design local public services, council policies, and community initiatives.
2. The Youth Voice Forum: A quarterly engagement panel allowing the younger generation to meet with local decision-makers and community figures to address key local priorities, including community safety, local employment opportunities, and mental health support services.
3. The Youth Voice Symposium: An annual flagship event scheduled to launch its inaugural edition in February 2027, aimed at showcasing youth creativity, civic achievements, and positive community outcomes across the borough.

What Have Community Members And Local Officials Said About The Launch?

Statements released by the Croydon Council Press Office reflect perspectives from local youth, council commissioning leads, and local government leadership:

As stated by AJ, a 16-year-old resident from South Croydon,

“I like the new sense of direction it’s giving young people in the community. I think we as young people need to be shown the right way to make a positive difference in Croydon. We need the opportunity to explore our views on issues affecting our community. The intentions of the Youth Voice Programme are very encouraging for Croydon as a community.”

As reported by the Croydon Council Press Office, Karen Sanderson, Head of Integrated Commissioning for Children, Young People, Education and Public Health, stated that

“We are committed to ensuring that young people’s voices are not only heard but actively help shape the services we commission. Working alongside P4YE will help us create meaningful and sustainable opportunities for young people to influence decision-making, ensuring that services across Croydon better reflect their needs and expectations.”

Sanderson further added,

“This programme represents an important step towards embedding co-production across our work and ensuring that young people are active partners in shaping the future of services in Croydon.”

Additionally, as quoted in the same release by the Croydon Council Press Office, the Executive Mayor stated that

“It’s a key priority for me to see more young people involved in shaping the future of Croydon, which is why we’re working with P4YE. This new Youth Voice Programme will help them build confidence and empower them to influence the policies that affect them.”

The Executive Mayor concluded,

“Our young people are creative, talented and full of potential. We want to change the narrative by celebrating their positive contributions to our borough, rather than hearing the negative stories.”

Background Of The Croydon Youth Empowerment Development

The commissioning of Project 4 Youth Empowerment (P4YE) builds upon ongoing efforts by local authorities in South London to address structural challenges in youth engagement and early intervention services.

P4YE is a established local Community Interest Company (CIC) specializing in targeted youth work, school interventions, 1:1 mentoring, and community safety initiatives across Croydon. Over recent years, local councils across Greater London have increasingly shifted toward “co-production” models—frameworks where local service users directly assist in the design and delivery of public services—to ensure public spending reflects real community needs.

This recent commissioning contract formalizes a borough-wide framework to institutionalize youth participation within local council decision-making structures, moving from ad-hoc consultations to permanent advisory panels.

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Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Young People and the Local Community

The implementation of the Youth Voice Programme is expected to bring direct structural changes to young people, local educational settings, and civic authorities across Croydon:

• For Young Residents (Ages 10–24): Participants stand to gain early exposure to civic processes, legal literacy, public budgeting, and leadership skills. Direct access to municipal decision-makers through the quarterly Youth Voice Forum could result in policy adjustments that directly impact local youth amenities, mental health services, and local safety measures.
• For Local Schools and Youth Organizations: Schools integrated into the programme will receive structured civic education toolkits and workshop support. This provides educational institutions with formal pathways to meet national personal, social, health, and economic (PSHE) education standards regarding citizenship and governance.
• For Croydon Council and Local Policy Makers: By embedding a structured Youth Steering Group into commissioning processes, council decision-makers are likely to see reduced risk of misallocating resources on youth initiatives that fail to resonate with their intended demographic. Over time, this co-production strategy can build greater trust between civic institutions and younger generations across the borough.