This year DofE attended the Liberal Democrat, Labour, Conservative, Reform and Green party conferences where we met with national and local policymakers from different parties and marked both the DofE’s 70th Year and the first anniversary of the Enrichment for All Coalition.  

This year’s party conference theme was about equipping young people with the skills they need for life and work. There were discussions on the upcoming independent Milburn Review which tackles youth unemployment and economic inactivity and the importance of finding solutions to the ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)’ crisis. Enrichment was a key policy solution to engage young people, provide trusted adult support and support personal development, confidence and wellbeing.

With over one million young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), the DofE is asking the Government to strengthen its Enrichment Entitlement and Enrichment Framework for Schools and Colleges by guaranteeing a minimum of 80 hours of high-quality enrichment per school and college student per year, along with targeted funding for schools and youth organisations supporting disadvantaged communities through an Enrichment Premium.

The Enrichment Entitlement and the Government’s ambition to halve the enrichment participation gap within the National Youth Strategy show positive strides towards universal access to enrichment for young people but, as these are non-statutory, there is further to go to ensure that enrichment is a right.

Through trusted adult support, enrichment supports young people’s personal development, builds confidence, improves mental health and wellbeing, and cultivates interests and skills – all things that can’t be taught through a textbook. We know that access is not currently evenly spread and varies based on geography, institution and circumstance. We need a minimum entitlement and investment in access for those least likely to access enrichment to ensure that no young people miss out.

This year we were joined by current and alumni UK Youth Ambassadors who asked MPs, government ministers and shadow teams to equip all young people with the skills they need to succeed in life and work. Read about their experiences.

Liberal Democrat

2024-25 Youth Ambassador, Scarlett, hosted a table discussion with national and local policymakers and young people around enrichment and the importance access has on young lives.  

2026-27 Youth Ambassador Dora joined Munira Wilson MP, Ian Sollom MP and representatives from the DofE and Youth Futures Foundation at our joint evening reception to speak about the impact of her DofE, her employability and future aspirations and the importance of enrichment for providing positive pathways to opportunity. 

Dora said: “It was incredible to speak in front of and with MPs and charities as well as have a chance to talk to them about the importance of enrichment and education. It was really interesting seeing the behind the scenes of policy motions that you could see on TV – I got to see one about protecting women and it was fun to see everyone voting with a hand in the air like tradition. It was also amazing to attend roundtables with MPs and Councillors, and be able to speak about the problems and possible solutions around barriers to accessing enrichment opportunities.”

Labour

We hosted a panel and a reception about 70 years of DofE and how we’re preparing young people to become ‘world ready’. We also supported the Enrichment for All Coalition’s first anniversary reception. 

 2022-23 Youth Ambassador Evie said: “I met with my local MP, Al Carns, where we discussed new plans for jobs in our area and, the limited opportunities currently available in local schools to take part in the DofE and what we can do to change that.

“I had the opportunity to chair a panel celebrating seven decades of the DofE, bringing together panellists to discuss the importance of enrichment within a young person’s education. I was also able to share a little about my own DofE journey and the impact it has had on both my personal life and career.

“I was honoured to sit on the panel at the Enrichment for All Coalition reception. We discussed what enrichment looks like across schools, the youth sector, and national and local government, and how they can work together to ensure every young person has the opportunity to participate in enrichment, regardless of their background or school.

“It was an inspiring conference that made me believe real change is happening, and I’m so grateful to the DofE for giving me the opportunity to attend and represent such a life changing charity.”

2026-27 Youth Ambassador, Sathya, said: “Sharing my DofE story at the DofE 70th anniversary reception with guests including MP Sir Stephen Timms, Chris Kirland and Ruth Marvel was a great chance to highlight how valuable enrichment opportunities are to young people.

“Watching a panel hosted by DofE Alumni Ambassador Evie about young people’s futures further emphasised the importance of building key skills. We got to meet and take pictures with many MPs and ministers, and even a chat with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy! We loved this unique opportunity.

“Watching panels. events and speeches taught us more about party polices and how fringe event agendas can have impacts on policy, as well as seeing live interviews with famous faces (Wes Streeting!) in real time!”

We were also joined by 2026-27 Youth Ambassadors Luke and Evie.

Luke said: “It was fantastic to meet charity leaders from other youth organisations at the DofE drinks reception, whilst celebrating the positive impacts of enrichment provision. It was a fantastic opportunity to practice my networking skills and I’m really grateful to Lisa Nandy MP, James Murray MP, Jonathan Reynolds MP and Anas Sarwar MP for taking the time to speak to my fellow Ambassadors and I.”

Evie said: “We met, chatted to and had a photo with the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. We spoke to her about the DofE and our experience at our first party conference.

“I really enjoyed getting to attend an education panel and hearing about how the government wants to transform outcomes for disadvantaged pupils by 2040. I’m really fascinated by how we can make an education system that supports every young person regardless of their background. All too often I’ve seen that the current system is a “one size fits all”, when research shows that everyone learns in different ways, so making education, and assessment of that education, something for everyone is really important. Having learnt about various factions within the Labour party in my A-Level politics lessons, this really brought the topic to life.”

During the Labour conference, they also met with sector outlet ‘Children and Young People Now’ to share their reflections.

Conservative

The DofE hosted a panel event on ‘Reconnecting a Generation: Opportunity, Purpose and Belonging for Young People’ chaired by Associate Editor of The Daily Telegraph, Camilla Tominey and included Shadow DCMS Minister, Louie French MP. 2026-27 Youth Ambassador, Lucy, joined the panel to discuss her DofE programme.

She said: “I was very fortunate to attend the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham this October as a DofE UK Youth Ambassador in what was a once-in-a-lifetime and incredibly surreal experience. My highlight was speaking on a panel celebrating 70 years of the DofE, the power of enrichment and learning beyond the classroom.

“It was amazing to be able to share my DofE journey and the impact it has had on my life, by increasing my confidence, broadening my horizons and increasing my connection to my community.

“I was also fascinated by the panel by AQA on digital literacy and the social media ban for young people under the age of 16; and the conversation about the use of AI in recruitment. I felt empowered by the representation of young people on the issues which matter most to us.”

2026-27 Youth Ambassadors Sophie and Tristan also joined us at Conservative Party Conference. Sophie said: “Speaking on a panel for the first time alongside inspirational young people – Conservative Party Conference saw me speaking on AQA’s ‘From TikTok to Tech Skills: What Students Feel they Really Need from Digital Literacy’ panel, alongside representatives from the group’s Youth Advisory Board about navigating the digital world as a young person, and the skills our young people need in an ever-changing online world. I really enjoyed getting to explore subjects that I’m passionate about with an audience keen to hear youth voices.

“Hearing about the impact of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, from everyday people to leaders in society – attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award panel was a great opportunity to hear the universal love that exists for the award scheme that has given me so much. Hosted by journalist Camilla Tominey, and featuring Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Minister Louie French MP, and fellow Youth Ambassador Lucy, they each shared touching experiences of the awards, and the role it has played in their lives and those of the communities around them.

“At the heart of Conference, with high-profile politicians and national and international media figures around every corner, you’re truly at the centre of the debate. Turning politics from a spectator sport to a participatory crucible of ideas, Conference was a chance to immerse myself in that, hear views contradictory and complementary to my own, and shape the debate in favour of young people.”

Looking ahead

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has committed to embedding youth voice in policymaking and taken important steps towards empowering young people through the National Youth Strategy. We are calling for a Youth Pledge that sets out a clear process for ensuring young people are represented at every level of policy and decision-making, particularly on issues that affect them.

We’re also asking the Government to make its Enrichment Entitlement a right for every young person, guaranteeing every secondary school and college student at least 80 hours of high-quality enrichment each year. This should be backed by an Enrichment Premium to support schools and youth organisations serving disadvantaged communities.