Building from Firm Foundations: The Growth of #iwill

Claiming Space at the Table: Youth Voices in Governance

Welcome back to Voices in Action, a podcast from The National Lottery Community Fund, co-produced with Be the change. Media Network. In this episode, host Lily Mott explores what it really means for young people to take on leadership roles in governance, as equal, trusted decision-makers shaping strategy and funding at The National Lottery Community Fund. Lily is joined by four inspiring guests who sit on the Fund’s country committees across the UK. Holly Hendrie is a Scotland Committee Member, Callum Bruce-Phillips sits on the Wales Committee, Caolan McKiernan is a Northern Ireland Committee Member, and Millie Downes sits on the England Committee. Each brings their own professional and lived experience into governance spaces, from youth work and community development to arts, culture, and local government. Together, they discuss what country committees do, how they achieved their roles, and what it’s like to help decide how funding strategy and priorities are shaped. They reflect on the importance of preparation and support through the Young Trustees Movement, and the value of project site visits to ground governance in real community impact. The conversation also explores some of the challenges they've faced – including assumptions about having to “represent all young people,” navigating power dynamics, and what governance spaces can get wrong when involving young people in leadership. The guests share why access, support, and a genuine willingness to share power are essential for making youth participation in governance meaningful and effective. This episode is a powerful look at what happens when young people are not just consulted, but trusted with influence, and why opening up governance spaces leads to better lives in communities across the UK. For more information about: * The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] * The National Lottery Community Fund’s Approach to Youth Voice: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice] * Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/ [https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/] Follow The National Lottery Community Fund on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TNLCommunityFund/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TNLCommunityFund], and LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-national-lottery-community-fund]. Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-the-change-media-network/]. Subscribe to this podcast and join us for more stories of youth-led change, community, and the power of social action.

Sharing Power, Shaping Decisions: Youth Voice in Grantmaking

Welcome back to Voices in Action, a podcast from The National Lottery Community Fund, co-produced with Be the change. Media Network. In this episode, we explore the role of Youth Voice Advisors at The National Lottery Community Fund, where young people help assess applications, speak directly with applicants, and influence funding decisions to change lives across the UK. Our host, Lily Mott, is joined by three brilliant guests who bring different perspectives to this work. Youth Voice Advisors Fatemah and Ffion reflect on their journeys in the role so far. Nadine, who works on the UK Fund programme, shares how Youth Voice Advisors are embedded into grantmaking processes and how their insights are changing how staff think, learn, and make decisions. Together, they explore what youth involvement in grantmaking actually looks like in practice: from peer reviewing applications and leading calls with young people, to evaluating meaningful youth participation. They explore how being trusted with real influence builds confidence, shifts power, and changes the way organisations understand communities. This episode is an honest look at what happens when young people are not just heard, but believed, respected, and trusted to help shape decisions. We see how that impact is felt not only by young people, but by staff, systems, and funders. For more information about: * The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] * The National Lottery Community Fund’s Approach to Youth Voice: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice] * Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/ [https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/] Follow The National Lottery Community Fund on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TNLCommunityFund/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TNLCommunityFund], and LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-national-lottery-community-fund]. Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-the-change-media-network/]. Subscribe to this podcast and join us for more stories of youth-led change, community, and the power of social action.

Youth Voices in Action: How Young People Shape Decisions at The National Lottery Community Fund

Welcome back to Voices in Action, a podcast from The National Lottery Community Fund, co-produced with Be the change. Media Network. In this episode, host Lily Mott explores how young people are shaping the future of funding and community change across the UK, as trusted decision makers, advisors and partners at The National Lottery Community Fund. Lily is joined by three inspiring guests who are helping to turn The National Lottery Community Fund's strategy into reality. Joe, Head of Youth Voice at The National Lottery Community Fund, shares her journey putting youth voice first in funding decisions, communications, governance, and strategy. Tia, a former Youth Voice Advisor and now a member of the UK Fund Panel, reflects on her path to influencing multi-million-pound funding decisions and how creativity, poetry, and storytelling play a role in driving change. Loren, a former member of the Young People in the Lead advisory panel, highlights the importance of youth participation and involving young people in decision-making. Together, they discuss what meaningful youth participation really looks like in practice: from young people shaping funding criteria and training staff, to sitting on boards, and visiting funded projects to see impact firsthand. They explore the challenges of measuring the impact of youth voice work, the importance of trust, transparency, and feedback, and why funders have a responsibility to show how youth participation can be done well. This episode is a powerful look at what happens when organisations truly share power and why giving young people a seat at the table benefits individuals, organisations and communities. For more information about: * The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] * The National Lottery Community Fund’s Approach to Youth Voice: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/from-decision-making-to-culture-change-developing-our-approach-to-youth-voice] * Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/ [https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/] Follow The National Lottery Community Fund on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TNLCommunityFund/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TNLCommunityFund], and LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-national-lottery-community-fund]. Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-the-change-media-network/]. Subscribe to this podcast and join us for more stories of youth-led change, community, and the power of social action.

Standing Up for What Matters: Celebrating #iwill Week 2025

Welcome back to Voices in Action, a podcast from The National Lottery Community Fund, co-produced with Be the change. Media Network. In this special #iwill Week episode, host Lily Mott is joined by two inspiring #iwill Ambassadors, Reuben Byfield and Claire Muhlawako Madzura, to explore this year’s theme, “What Do You Stand For?”, and celebrate the power of young people driving change in their communities. Reuben is an #iwill Ambassador and trustee at Bite Back 2030, a youth-led movement campaigning for a fairer and healthier food system. Claire is an #iwill Ambassador, changemaker, and storyteller whose work with organisations like Young Manchester champions youth voice, community power, and meaningful collaboration. Together, they reflect on how their journeys in social action began, what they stand for as leaders, and how young people's voices continue to shape stronger, more connected communities across the UK. They also discuss the impact of initiatives like Bite Back 2030 and Young Manchester, both supported through the #iwill Fund, and why sustained investment in youth-led projects is essential for long-term change. For more information about: * The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] * #iwill Week 2025: https://www.iwill.org.uk/iwill-week-events/ [https://www.iwill.org.uk/iwill-week-events/] * The #iwill Movement: https://www.iwill.org.uk [https://www.iwill.org.uk/] * Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/ [https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/] Follow The National Lottery Community Fund on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TNLCommunityFund/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TNLCommunityFund], and LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-national-lottery-community-fund]. Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-the-change-media-network/]. Subscribe to this podcast and join us for more stories of youth-led change, community, and the power of social action.

Building from Firm Foundations: The Growth of #iwill

Welcome back to Voices in Action, a podcast from The National Lottery Community Fund, co-produced with Be the change. Media Network. In this episode, host Lily Mott is joined by Dame Julia Cleverdon, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, and Sophia Badhan, #iwill Ambassador and activist, to explore the growth of the #iwill Movement and the impact of the #iwill Fund in empowering young people to drive positive change across the UK. Together, they reflect on the #iwill Movement’s origins, the role of collaboration between sectors, and what true youth leadership looks like in practice. Sophia shares her journey as an #iwill Ambassador and her recent work contributing to the National Youth Strategy, while Dame Julia discusses how the #iwill Fund continues to create opportunities for young people to shape stronger, fairer communities. The episode also highlights the #iwill Fund, open until 19 November 2025, which is a fantastic opportunity for organisations across England to access funding that supports youth-led social action. Whether you’re a young person, educator, youth worker, or simply inspired by young people making a difference, this episode offers valuable insights into how lasting change begins when we invest in young people and communities. For more information about: * The National Lottery Community Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/] * The #iwill Fund: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/iwill-fund-2025-strand-2 [https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/funding-programmes/iwill-fund-2025-strand-2] * The #iwill Movement: https://www.iwill.org.uk [https://www.iwill.org.uk/] * Be the change. Media Network: https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/ [https://www.bethechangemedianetwork.com/] Follow The National Lottery Community Fund on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/TNLCommunityFund/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TNLCommunityFund], and LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/company/the-national-lottery-community-fund]. Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bethechangemedianetwork/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-the-change-media-network/]. Subscribe to this podcast and join us for more stories of youth-led change, community, and the power of social action.