As we begin 2026, the Youth Charter does so with a heavy heart, but with an unwavering resolve. The end of 2025 saw 33 Young Lives Lost across the UK and Ireland , each one a child, a sibling, a friend, a future stolen far too soon. These are not statistics. They are names, faces and families forever changed. The loss of Aria Thorpe, aged just nine, killed in December, must mark a line in the sand for our society. If it does not, then we have collectively failed. Despite a

Aligning Africa's Youth Legacy with Daka 2026 and the the IOC's Olympism 365 The Youth Charter announces the launch of “From Luanda to Dakar: A Youth Legacy Pathway for Africa”, a continental and global campaign aligned with the 4th African Youth Games, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and the International Olympic Committee’s Olympism 365 strategy. This initiative positions the African Youth Games not as an end in themselves, but as a strategic pathway ensuring Africa’s y

The UK Government’s renewed call and potential court action to compel former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich to release the proceeds of the club’s sale presents a critical moment of moral, political and social choice. This is not simply a legal dispute over frozen assets. It is a defining test of whether sport, once again, can be used as a vehicle for social justice, peace and opportunity, rather than remaining collateral damage in global conflict. If and when these funds a

The Youth Charter welcomes the publication of Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy , the first national framework for young people in over two decades. This strategy recognises many of the systemic challenges the Youth Charter has highlighted for more than 32 years: the collapse of local youth infrastructure, rising loneliness, poor mental health, digital harms, inequality of opportunity, and the widening participation gap affecting disadvantaged young people. It also

A National Youth Development Investment Framework for a Generation in Crisis Introduction: A National Call 2 Action for Our Young People The Youth Charter (YC) welcomes the renewed public, political and policy focus on young people across the UK. However, the scale and fragmentation of current initiatives reveal a persistent structural problem: there is still no coherent, coordinated, cross-government National Youth Development Strategy with the investment required to meet th

The world has gathered in Rio de Janeiro for COP30 conference returning to a former Olympic host city once again placed under the global spotlight, the question is no longer whether sport can contribute to climate action, but whether it can do so at the scale, urgency, and coordination the moment demands. Rio, the city of the 2016 Games , stands as both a symbol of global aspiration and a reminder of the unfinished legacy of major sporting events. Today, that legacy is judge

Each year on 21 September, the world pauses to mark the ‘United Nations International Day of Peace’. It is a day that calls on all...

As the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 inspire millions around the globe, the Youth Charter is urging organisers, governments,...

This week in Anchorage, Alaska, the world will watch as two of its most polarising leaders – Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin – meet to...

The Dakar Games will be the first-ever Olympic event staged on African soil – a milestone moment for the International Olympic Committee...

"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does."...

Introduction The Football Association’s Community Shield at Wembley is the annual curtain raiser to the new season, which saw Premier...

From the streets of Cheetham Hill to the pitches of Soweto, from East London estates to refugee camps in Sudan, young people everywhere...

From 26 July to 5 August 2025, the cities of Constantine, Sétif, Skikda, and Annaba in Algeria will host over 3,000 young athletes from...

In today’s Britain, where youth unemployment and disengagement remain persistent challenges, the sports and leisure ecosystem presents an...

On the anniversary of UN International Nelson Mandela Day, the Youth Charter pays tribute to one of the most iconic and inspirational...

The Youth Charter warmly welcomes the Government’s announcement of the Young Futures Hubs initiative as a positive and timely...

World Youth Skills Day 2025 is a powerful reminder of the global commitment to youth empowerment through education, training, and...

Wimbledon, a global icon of tradition, excellence, and athletic grace this year marked the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe’s historic...

In the wake of the recent Olympism365 Summit, the international community stands at a pivotal crossroads. With the IOC committing $200...