"organisations that foster a genuine and authentic relationship with young people make the most meaningful impact"

Our National Youth Board Chair, Shane, recently facilitated the opening session of Include Summit - the UK's largest conference focussed on equality, diversity and inclusion in sport. 

In the below article, Shane shares his experiences after attending the conference and explores the importance of authentic youth voice initiatives in the sector.

Article by Shane McCullough.

On 8 October, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Include Summit at London’s Lee Valley Velodrome in the Olympic Park—an iconic area that holds special meaning for me. And before you ask, no this isn’t just because I go to watch West Ham lose regularly around the corner.

The summit’s mission was to get 1 million underprivileged and underrepresented young people actively involved in sport. It’s a bold goal, but one I’m confident we can achieve. As part of the summit, I had the privilege of facilitating a panel discussion on a topic that’s close to my heart; ‘What do young people think needs to change in sport?’

It was powerful to hear from fellow young people, who represented organisations such as Fight for Peace, Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, and League Leaders, about the changes they want to see across the sector, namely more inclusivity, better representation, and most importantly centring the voices of young people. 

The bulk of the conversation focused on the risks of youth voice initiatives becoming tokenistic. For the panel, organisations that foster a genuine and authentic relationship with young people make the most meaningful impact. Moving forward, the panel called on organisations to prioritise active and transparent consultation throughout any youth voice programme. 

The panel gave us a platform to amplify young people’s perspectives on using sport as a tool for social change. Include's scheduling of this panel as the opening plenary on the main stage demonstrates the topic’s importance. We must maintain this level of priority if we are to ensure young people are listened to and embedded into the decisions that affect them and their personal relationships with sport and physical activity.

In addition to our panel, I was able to attend other fascinating discussions, including ‘Is disability inclusion in sport dropping off the priority list?’, moderated by Helen Rowbotham, Chief Executive at Access Sport. This thought-provoking session was a stark reminder of the growing pressures the industry faces. I was proud to see Access Sport leading the charge on this important issue.

I also want to congratulate others at Access Sport— Jayde, Sophie, and Sarah—for their excellent panels and workshops. Their passion and knowledge is inspirational, and I am grateful to contribute to an organisation that works so hard to make sport more inclusive for everyone.

Finally, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the Include Summit and Access Sport for giving me the chance to represent the Access Sport National Youth Board and participate in such an important event. 

Being just 10 minutes from where I grew up and first developed my love for sport made the day even more special. The legacy of London 2012 is alive in that space, not just in terms of the infrastructure, but in the spirit of inclusion, opportunity, and aspiration. The work we do now in pushing for equitable access to sport will ensure that future generations can also benefit from the transformative power of sport. Here’s to next year…

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To find out more and how to apply please download the application pack:

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