Engaging Young People in Consultations
About EYPiC
Engaging Young People in Consultations (EYPiC) is a project dedicated to addressing the underrepresentation of young people in public decision-making.
Founded by Dr Gemma Bridge, a public health researcher with expertise in community engagement, and Bernard Fanning, a transport project manager with a passion for inclusive development, EYPiC aims to ensure that young people have meaningful opportunities to shape the policies and places that affect their lives.
By involving young voices in consultations, we not only uphold their right to participate, but also enhance service delivery, foster inclusion, and build stronger, more connected communities.
Our Research
The EYPiC project was delivered in two phases. Phase One was supported by the Future Transport Vision Group and Phase Two by the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund.
Across both phases, we worked closely with young people and sector professionals to understand and improve the engagement of young people (focussing on those aged 18 to 25) in public consultations.
Phase 1
Focused on understanding the current landscape and identifying challenges and opportunities for involving young people in consultations.
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A literature review to assess existing research and engagement methods, which informed the design of further data collection.
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An online survey of young people across England to explore barriers and opportunities to their participation in consultations.
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Four online focus groups with young people aged 18–25 to discuss and expand on survey findings using collaborative tools like Mural.
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Expert interviews with professionals in community engagement, highlighting practical challenges and strategies for improving youth inclusion.
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Findings and recommendations were then shared with consultation experts to test their relevance and usefulness in real-world settings.
Phase Two
Built on this foundation by developing practical resources for consultation practitioners. This included the creation of the EYPiC Toolkit, which features:
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The EYPiC Framework – a step-by-step visual guide to support meaningful youth engagement in decision-making, grounded in participation theory.
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The EYPiC Reflection and Evaluation Tool – designed to help organisations assess and improve their engagement practices over time.
This phase also included follow-up meetings and reflections with partners and participants to further refine our approach and deepen our understanding of what works in promoting the engagement of young people.
Download the toolkit here:
The EYPiC Toolkit
A Resource to Support the Ongoing and Meaningful Participation of Young People in Local Decision-Making
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