Intergenerational good governance

Junior consultant Maurizio Cuttin argues that public-purpose organisations should foster collaboration between people of all ages

Today (12 August) marks International Youth Day. For those of us who have volunteered in the youth sector for many years, this day brings mixed emotions. On one hand, it is heartening to see the focus on young people, with institutions and various segments of society coming together with the common belief that ‘young people are our future’.

But on the other hand, this future-orientated narrative highlights the limitations of political stakeholders in recognising and valuing the contribution already made by young people. It also implicitly places the burden of issues generated by previous generations—climate change, a broken pension system, a lacklustre economy that makes homeownership unattainable for many—on the shoulders of young people.

The phrase ‘young people are our future’ is so overused that it mirrors other once serious but now comical slogans, such as the British Transport Police's ‘See it. Say it. Sorted’. The sentiment might be well-intentioned, but it also implies that young people's time has not yet arrived. Instead of being recognised as active agents of change in the present, they are relegated to waiting for a future that seems perpetually out of reach.

At first glance this may appear as purely a political problem for Whitehall and governments across the world, but there is a lot that public-purpose organisations can do to bridge the gap.

An ageing boardroom

Britain is experiencing a crisis of representation. Despite the big talk on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many public-purpose organisations still lag in welcoming individuals from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds to leadership positions. While some progress has been made regarding certain protected characteristics—such as race, sexuality, and gender—diverse age representation remains severely lacking.

Boards are dominated by older generations. This is not an abstract concern; less than 3% of charity trustees in England and Wales are under 30, and the average age of a trustee is 57.

The youth sector prides itself on developing catchy slogans such as ‘Nothing about us without us’, but given these statistics, it might be more accurate to say, ‘If you’re not in the room, you’re on the menu’.

Consider the sports world. A 2018/2019 diversity survey by Sport England revealed that the average age of board members in sporting organisations is 54, with only 2% of board members aged between 18 and 29. This is particularly concerning, as younger athletes make up the primary demographic across many sports and are most affected by governance decisions and regulations, especially in light of recent corruption and doping scandals in some major sports, including football.

Why are young people consistently excluded from boards? Is this exclusion intentional? Most likely not. The real issue lies in the undervaluation of the unique lived experiences that young people can offer, coupled with a culture that tends to view fresh graduates as mere interns—often unpaid—rather than as valuable contributors to a social cause or public administration.

The perils of tokenism

So, what’s the answer? One would be to open the doors for young people to contribute. Much like the spirit of the Welsh Government’s 2015 Well-being of Future Generations Act, the answer lies in adopting a forward-looking approach that focuses on current and future generations. If charities and public bodies want to be in tune with young people and the broader public pulse, they need to invest in creating youth-friendly structures that allow them to be better informed and advised by young people.

Examples of meaningful youth participation include the NHS Youth Forum initiative that was originally created by the British Youth Council and now sits as a programme run by Barnado’s. Working hand-in-hand with the youth sector might help avoid the perils of tokenism and encourage the creation of well-designed programmes that enhance perspectives and improve diversity at any table where governance is up for discussion.

Much of the answer lies in fostering intergenerational arenas where young and old can debate and craft policies, standards and strategies together. This isn’t about ticking a box; it’s about giving young people equal say, influence and respect to give their unfiltered perspective in the same way that older board members or directors would.

An intergenerational responsibility

Harnessing the voices of young people is not only morally and ethically important; it also benefits charities in both the short and long term.

With poll after poll indicating that Gen Z is drifting away from the liberal democratic values cemented in the post-WWII era, the future of democracy is becoming fragile. While some may panic and suggest that the problem stems from social media, calling for the need to ‘get kids off their phones or we'll end up in a dictatorship’, a more thoughtful and less condescending approach is necessary. Young people are indeed drifting away from democratic engagement, but numerous studies indicate that when given opportunities, their trust in the system bounces back. It's about dignity: the solution lies in providing these opportunities and ensuring that young people have a meaningful voice.

As civic society contends with the global stressors it faces, particularly in the context of tightened fiscal budgets, it is increasingly crucial for charities to involve young people in decision-making processes and create a culture of engagement. In the short term, this strategy may help counteract the recent decline in charitable donations from young people—only one-third of individuals aged 16 to 24 donated or sponsored someone in 2024/25, down from about half in 2019. This trend is part of a wider pattern linked to the rising cost of living.

Engaging young people now may also inspire them to dedicate their future careers to noble causes such as addressing homelessness, caring for patients, or combating global poverty—thus creating a stronger civil society and, by extension, a healthier and more resilient democracy all round.

Paving a way forward

Young people have been on the margins of society for too long. Instead of waiting for governments to redefine the social contract with younger (and future) generations, the quickest way to make progress would be for charities and public-purpose organisations to take the lead.

By establishing youth forums and advisory boards that focus on co-production and meaningful, outcome-oriented youth participation, civic society can play a crucial role in restoring young people's faith in democracy. Charities, universities, and public bodies that promote robust youth participation—whether through targeted events or by reserving seats on their boards for young people—will naturally gain new perspectives that can strengthen (and modernise) their work in an age where brand authenticity and innovation are ever more important.

For International Youth Day to be more than just symbolic, there is a need to start straight away. Instead of delaying the empowerment of young people to tomorrow, next week, or later, why not take action today? For guidance on how to meaningfully include young people in your board and create a ripple effect of positive benefits, consider reviewing GGI's guidance from 2021 on how boards can improve age diversity.