Getting Heard: Engaging with decision-makers

Engaging with decision-makers and influential people to make change in your community

Engaging with decision-makers and influential people to make change in your community

For many young people, taking part in a social action project provides one of the first opportunities to influence people outside of their immediate circle. Communicating, persuading, reasoning with, negotiating, storytelling, seeing things from other people’s point of view...all these skills are crucial to being able to understand, empathise with, and get the best out of our communities.

Whether it’s approaching a business leader for support with a plastic-free initiative, presenting to the Town’s Fund councillor for a grant, or lobbying the local MP to get a campaign heard in Parliament, being able to engage effectively with decision-makers in their communities gives an empowering sense of agency to young people delivering social action.

In this free resource for educators (primary and secondary) we will explore who holds ‘the power locally, and nationally, including political and financial decision-makers, and other influential people such as the media and religious and community leaders. We’ll look at what it is they can, and should, be doing to help community projects such as yours, where they are located, and how best to make contact.


Your Instructor


Stella Baynes
Stella Baynes

"Hello! I was the Social Action Programme Manager at Young Citizens until January 2024, and hope to share with you some of my passion and experience in supporting children and young people's active citizenship. As a qualified teacher, youth worker, and trainer, I truly believe that young people have no limits when it comes to achieving their goals if they have the right people supporting them."


Class curriculum



Frequently Asked Questions


How long will it take me to go through the resources?
We think that most people will take about an hour to go through all of the material included in this resource. You don't need to do it all in one sitting though - and the platform will remember where you got up to so you can pick up in the right place when you return.
How long do I have access to the resource?
Forever! After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this resource for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Why is this resource free?
We are really fortunate to have secured funding to help support children and young people to improve their community spaces as part of the Co-op Foundation #iwillFund. We want children and young people everywhere to be able to take part in quality social action - and we recognise that engaging with decision-makers is a key part to this.