<p>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?</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of the <em>Time for Impact</em> podcast, host Chris Wade sits down with Dan Lawes from <strong>My Life, My Say</strong>—a national charity focused on mobilising underrepresented young communities. </p><p><br></p><p>Crucially, this isn&#39;t about adults speaking <em>for</em> the youth; it is a movement built entirely on the passion of young people volunteering their time to lead the charge.</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>The 2016 Catalyst:</strong> 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.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Power of Democracy Cafés:</strong> 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.</p></li><li><p><strong>The Campaign for &#39;Vote 16&#39;:</strong> 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.</p></li><li><p><strong>Making Politics Relevant:</strong> 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.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Key Takeaway</strong>The 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.</p><p><strong>About the Guest &amp; Organisation</strong>Dan Lawes is a passionate advocate for youth democratic engagement with <strong>My Life, My Say</strong> (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.</p><p><br></p><p>This episode is proudly supported by the organisations championing the power of volunteering across the sector:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Volunteers&#39; Week:</strong> The annual celebration of the incredible contributions volunteers make across the UK.</p></li><li><p><strong>Investing in Volunteers:</strong> The UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management.</p></li><li><p><strong>Volunteero:</strong> Volunteer management software helping charities streamline their processes and maximise their impact.</p></li></ul><p>*** <strong>Host:</strong> Chris Wade<strong>Production:</strong> Time for Impact Ltd</p><p><strong>🤝 A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors</strong></p>