Empowering Young People to Lead Through Inclusion, Innovation, and Partnership

Each year on 12 August, International Youth Day shines a spotlight on the vital contributions young people make in building a better, more inclusive world. The 2025 theme, “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships”, underscores the creativity, leadership, and collaborative spirit that young people bring to addressing global challenges.

At the Sport and Recreation Alliance, we champion the power of sport and physical activity to drive meaningful social change, especially when young people are leading the way. Whether shaping policy, co-creating inclusive programmes, or spearheading digital innovation, young leaders are forging a more connected and equitable future through partnership, purpose, and action.

To mark this year’s International Youth Day, we’re proud to spotlight the inspiring work of our member, the Youth Sport Trust – a charity placing young people at the centre of inclusive, innovative, and impactful programmes that are changing lives through sport and collaboration.

Member Spotlight – Youth Sport Trust

As a children’s charity, the Youth Sport Trust exists to harness the power of play and sport in children’s education and development; building a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport.

For nearly 30 years, the Youth Sport Trust has helped schools, their communities, and young people to create inclusive environments where wellbeing and opportunity are placed at the heart of both education and youth development. A key feature of the approach is the Youth Board, which plays an active role in shaping organisational strategy and decision-making. These young board members contribute directly to governance and influence national conversations on inclusion, sport, and education policy, ensuring youth voice is not only heard, but acted upon. In a world increasingly connected by digital tools, the Youth Sport Trust is empowering the next generation to lead and make change that helps young people balance the demands of the digital age with human connection, achieved through play and sport.

Showcase Project 1: Inclusion 2028 – Building a More Inclusive Future Through Partnership

A flagship example of multilateral cooperation, Inclusion 2028 is a bold collaboration between the Youth Sport Trust, Activity Alliance, British Paralympic Association, nasen, National Network of Parent Carer Forums, and Swim England. Funded by the Department for Education through their SEND Inclusion in PE and School Sport grant, its aim is to improve the choices and chances of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through a series of targeted interventions in physical education (PE), school sport, and physical activity.

The programme is driven by a highly specialised nationwide network of Lead Inclusion Schools working collaboratively to co-create inclusive PE and school sport experiences for all young people, ensuring they can access inspiring and meaningful opportunities.

This work is designed and delivered with young people at the heart. Whether through a governance model incorporating a newly recruited Young People Collective, or by upskilling teachers with inclusive youth leadership ideas in schools, young people with SEND are co-designing inclusive activities inspired by the magic of the Commonwealth and Paralympic Games, and influencing decision-making. The initiative is a thriving example of how young people are shaping practice, policy, and partnerships – redefining what’s possible when inclusivity is seen as a shared responsibility and founding principle.

“I’ve been coming to this club for a full year and it’s quite good, I enjoy doing what I do here. It’s a really supportive community: it doesn’t matter if you have a special need or you’re in a wheelchair, it doesn’t matter what your ability is, you can come here because anyone can play and is welcome. I really love how nice everyone is, it really makes me want to come back because we all enjoy playing sport here and it’s just fun. The teachers and teaching assistants are really supportive here too – they spend their time here with us and they care. We’re a team here.”  (Lewis, Young Person with SEND)

To find out more about this work, please visit https://www.youthsporttrust.org/inclusion-2028

In addition, since 2022, the Youth Sport Trust has hosted a week of free online webinars to support practitioners in creating inclusive school sport opportunities for young people with SEND. For 2026, this will be from the 26 January. For more information see: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/school-support/free-resources/inclusion-live-week

Showcase Project 2: Girls Active – Technology, Voice and Co-Creation in Action

Girls Active brings to life the Youth Sport Trust’s commitment to fostering girls' participation in PE, sport and physical activity and is another example of a programme that reflects the International Youth Day theme in action. The programme aims to tackle the barriers girls experience and through cultivating a movement of girls and young women, empowering them to take positive action through influencing, leading, and inspiring their peers.

The framework of Girls Active has six key principles that underpin effective practice in engaging girls to be physically active. These have positive relationships at their core and should be supported by whole school policies and practice.

Whether through digital campaigns, youth leadership training, or peer mentoring, Girls Active gives girls the platforms and confidence to lead change; in their schools, communities, and beyond. The programme has enabled over 10,000 girls to reframe their relationship with sport, not through top-down initiatives but by enabling their voices and the voices of others to shape the system. The impact of their empowerment has resulted in 97% of participants feeling more confident and 90% having increased enjoyment in taking part in sport and physical activity.  Through collaboration and co-creation more than 100,000 girls have been beneficiaries of participation opportunities through Girls Active.

‘I have learnt that being a female role-model can influence other females to have faith and believe in themselves.  It really doesn’t matter the shape or size of anyone’s body, everyone is equal and can do the same things as others can do” (Girls Active leader)

For information about the annual Girls Active survey and national findings: Girls Active National Reports - Youth Sport Trust (2025 survey findings will be released mid-October)

For free teacher CPD modules: Girls Active: Getting Started - Youth Sport Trust

Young People Driving Inclusive Innovation

As we mark International Youth Day 2025, the Youth Sport Trust is proud to be led by young people who are advancing cooperation, reimagining systems, and building a more inclusive world through sport, technology, and partnership.

These are not just future leaders – they are today’s changemakers, proving that with the right tools, support, and networks, young people can and will create a better, more active future for all.

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