Young people are playing a pivotal role in shaping services and strategies across Hammersmith and Fulham, with the borough's Youth Cabinet at the forefront of co-production and decision-making.
The Youth Mayor, Kamita, and the Youth Cabinet presented an update on their work to the Full Council meeting on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, detailing how their initiatives are directly influencing borough services and fostering greater youth engagement. The presentation highlighted the significant growth of Youth Voice in Hammersmith and Fulham, with over 60 active youth councillors and engagement with more than 3,000 young people. The Youth Cabinet emphasised their role in creating opportunities for young people to speak for themselves and influence change, rather than simply speaking on their behalf.
Children's Services Reforms and Co-Production
A key focus of the Youth Cabinet's work involves reforms to children's services, driven by co-production with young people. This collaborative approach ensures that young people share their understanding of necessary changes and what effective programmes should look like from their perspective. The Youth Cabinet has partnered with the Co-Production Matters Board to guarantee that young people's voices are heard and actively influence decisions impacting them. This partnership embodies the principle of working with, not for, young people
and aims to embed co-production principles throughout the council.
New Youth Hub Development
The development of a new Youth Hub is a significant project, designed with input from young people across the borough. This hub aims to consolidate essential resources, including information on work experience, safety, activities, and health and wellbeing support, into a single, accessible location. While the website for the hub has been developed with youth input, and the priority is to ensure young people are aware of and utilise it, an exact opening date has not yet been specified, with the project described as still developing
.
Teenage Girl Space in Bishop's Park
An example of young people's ideas being realised is the Teenage Girl Space in Bishop's Park, launched in September. This initiative was a direct response to feedback from young women who expressed their need for a space where they could feel comfortable, safe and spend time with each other.
The space was planned and launched in collaboration with parks and community partners, bringing together organisations that offer support and opportunities to young teenage girls.
Borough-Wide Research and Future Influence
The Youth Cabinet is currently undertaking a borough-wide research project to identify youth priorities. This research focuses on understanding what matters most to young people, identifying barriers to opportunities, and pinpointing areas for improvement. The findings are intended to shape new Youth Voice priorities, ensuring they are representative of all young people in the borough. The intention is for these findings to directly influence borough-wide decision-making, with the Youth Cabinet planning to collaborate with council departments to examine existing initiatives, identify gaps, and co-create solutions. The research is not intended to simply become another report.
Broader Youth Engagement
Beyond the Youth Cabinet, the Youth Voice in Hammersmith and Fulham has continued to grow,
with over 60 active youth councillors and engagement with more than 3,000 young people through research, consultations, projects, and events. This extensive engagement suggests multiple platforms and mechanisms are in place for young people to voice their opinions and influence policy across the council.
Ongoing Commitment and Future Plans
The Youth Mayor and Youth Cabinet expressed a commitment to the ongoing development of Youth Voice initiatives. Regarding the Teenage Girl Space, they aim to keep listening to young girls using the space and explore how we can build on this work.
Their overarching vision is that Youth Voice isn't just a one-off consultation, it's an ongoing conversation. We want young people across Hammersmith and Fulham to feel heard, valued, and trusted to help create change. And we want to work with all of you to make that happen.
This indicates a dedication to continuous engagement and influence beyond the current reporting period.
Youth Voice Showcase Event
A Youth Voice showcase event is planned for November 24th, designed to bring together various strands of Youth Voice across the borough and celebrate the achievements and influence of young people.
Councillors responded positively to the presentation, commending the Youth Cabinet's work and expressing enthusiasm for continued collaboration. Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, noted the significant progress in Youth Voice and the council's commitment to working with young people to shape services. More information on the council's agenda can be found in the Public reports pack.