Matthew Represents Young People at Youth Affairs All-Party Parliamentary Group

We are incredibly proud to share that Matthew, a dedicated member of the YMCA North Staffordshire Youth Governance Team, recently attended the Youth Affairs All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to represent the voices of young people across Stoke-on-Trent.

Speaking directly to national leaders and decision-makers, Matthew highlighted what meaningful, forward-thinking youth work should look like — ensuring that the lived experiences of young people in our city are heard at the highest levels.

With the support and encouragement of YMCA North Staffordshire, Matthew was given both the confidence and the platform to address an issue that is becoming increasingly important in today’s society: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the wider digital landscape. In his speech, he spoke passionately about the responsibility youth organisations and youth workers have in helping young people navigate the online world safely and confidently.

Matthew said:

“We must invest in digital literacy which will help young people and our youth workers to identify dangerous content compared to safe content, misinformation compared to truth, and biased content compared to impartial content.”

His message was clear — as technology continues to evolve, youth work must evolve with it. Supporting young people today means equipping them with the tools to critically assess online information, understand the risks associated with digital platforms, and build the confidence to question what they see and hear.

Matthew’s contribution not only reflected his own commitment to positive change, but also the collective voice of young people across Stoke-on-Trent who want to see investment in education, awareness and protection in the digital age.

At YMCA North Staffordshire, we are committed to empowering young leaders like Matthew — creating opportunities for them to influence policy, shape conversations and drive meaningful change within their communities.

If you would like to read Matthew’s speech in full, you can do so by clicking the link below.