Co-operatives UK Youth Advisory Group 2026: Paid Opportunity for Young People Aged 16–30 to Shape the Future of the Co-operative Movement
Applications are now open for the Co-operatives UK Youth Advisory Group 2026, a paid youth participation opportunity for young people aged 16 to 30 who want to help influence the future of the co-operative movement, strengthen youth participation, and contribute ideas on how co-operative values can respond to some of the challenges facing younger generations.
Established in 2024, the Youth Advisory Group, commonly referred to as the YAG, brings together young people from different backgrounds to provide strategic input into the work of Co-operatives UK and to develop independent projects designed to increase engagement among young people both within the co-operative movement and across wider society.
Importantly, applicants do not need to have previous experience with co-operatives. Applications are welcomed from young people already involved in co-operative organizations as well as those who are completely new to the movement.
Members of the Youth Advisory Group are paid for their time, reflecting both the commitment expected from participants and Co-operatives UK’s intention to reduce barriers that could otherwise prevent young people from participating.
Applications may be submitted in several formats. Candidates can respond through:
- Written text
- Video
- Audio
The application process is designed to be accessible to people with different levels of experience and different communication styles.
Applications close at:
23:59 on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Applicants must complete the official application form and send it to:
About Co-operatives UK
Co-operatives UK is an organization representing and supporting the co-operative movement.
Co-operatives are organizations or businesses owned and controlled by their members rather than primarily by outside investors. Depending on the type of co-operative, members may include:
- Workers
- Consumers
- Residents
- Community members
- Producers
- Businesses
- Other stakeholders
The broader co-operative movement is based on ideas such as:
- Democratic participation
- Shared ownership
- Fairness
- Community
- Mutual support
- Collective decision-making
- Economic participation
- Social responsibility
Co-operatives UK’s Youth Advisory Group is intended to ensure that younger people have a meaningful role in conversations about how these ideas should develop in the future.
What Is the Co-operatives UK Youth Advisory Group?
The Youth Advisory Group is a group of young people aged 16–30 who work with Co-operatives UK to bring youth perspectives into the organization’s work.
The group was established in:
2024
It was launched through Co-operatives UK’s National Youth Summit as part of the organization’s strategic commitment to:
Empowering young people.
The group has two broad functions:
- Providing strategic advice and youth perspectives to Co-operatives UK.
- Developing or supporting projects that increase young people’s participation in the co-operative movement.
The YAG is therefore more than a discussion forum.
Members are expected to contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, advocate for youth participation, and help connect co-operative principles with the priorities and experiences of younger generations.
Why the Youth Advisory Group Was Created
Co-operatives UK recognizes that young people face significant uncertainty in areas such as:
- Employment
- Economic security
- Climate change
- Community resilience
- Housing
- Business models
- Social inequality
- Participation in decision-making
At the same time, many young people may know relatively little about co-operatives and the alternative approaches they can provide to ownership, work, business, and community action.
The Youth Advisory Group was therefore created to help bridge this gap.
Its members can help Co-operatives UK understand:
- What young people care about
- What prevents young people from engaging with co-operatives
- How co-operative ideas can be communicated more effectively
- What types of opportunities would interest younger generations
- How the movement can become more accessible and relevant
The Role of Youth Advisory Group Members
The official description of the Youth Advisory Group organizes its work around two major areas:
- Advise and enrich
- Advocate and engage
1. Advise and Enrich
Young people can bring perspectives that established organizations may not otherwise hear.
Youth Advisory Group members are therefore expected to help Co-operatives UK:
- Understand younger generations
- Generate new ideas
- Challenge established ways of thinking
- Improve youth participation
- Make decisions that better reflect young people’s needs
- Include youth perspectives in organizational discussions
The group provides strategic input into Co-operatives UK’s work.
This means members may be asked to comment on ideas, priorities, activities, communication, or wider questions affecting the co-operative movement.
Bringing New Perspectives
A central purpose of the YAG is to ensure that young people are not merely discussed as an audience but are included in conversations about the future of the movement.
Young members may bring perspectives shaped by:
- Education
- Employment
- Entrepreneurship
- Climate concerns
- Community involvement
- Social movements
- Digital culture
- Youth networks
- Cost-of-living pressures
- Changing expectations about work and business
These experiences can help established organizations identify blind spots and reconsider traditional approaches.
Championing Youth Voice
Youth Advisory Group members work alongside Co-operatives UK to:
Champion the youth voice.
This means advocating for young people to be meaningfully involved in the co-operative movement rather than included only symbolically.
Participants can help promote:
- Youth participation
- Youth leadership
- Intergenerational collaboration
- Representation
- Accessible opportunities
- New ways of engaging younger audiences
The group therefore serves as both an advisory mechanism and a platform for youth representation.
2. Advocate and Engage
The second major role of the Youth Advisory Group is advocacy.
Co-operatives UK notes that younger generations are facing an uncertain future, including challenges related to:
- Climate anxiety
- Job insecurity
- Economic pressures
The organization believes that co-operative approaches can contribute to a fairer future but recognizes that many young people are not yet familiar with the co-operative movement.
Members of the YAG therefore help:
- Raise awareness of co-operatives
- Promote co-operative values
- Connect with youth networks
- Encourage participation
- Explain alternative approaches to business and ownership
- Increase engagement beyond existing co-operative communities
What Issues Might Interest Applicants?
Although applicants do not need to have a specific professional or academic background, the opportunity may be particularly attractive to young people interested in issues such as:
- Fairness
- Climate action
- Community development
- Social justice
- Ethical business
- Alternative business models
- Youth empowerment
- Sustainability
- Social enterprise
- Economic democracy
- Employment
- Community ownership
Candidates do not need to be experts in these issues.
The application is designed to identify young people who have ideas, motivation, relevant perspectives, or useful experiences to contribute.
You Do Not Need Previous Co-operative Experience
One of the most important features of the application call is that previous involvement with co-operatives is not required.
Applications are welcomed from:
- Young people already active in co-operatives
- Young people familiar with the movement
- Young people with limited co-operative experience
- Young people completely new to co-operatives
This makes the opportunity accessible to a broader range of applicants.
The group is intentionally designed to bring together people from across the co-operative landscape as well as people who may offer entirely new perspectives.
Members Are Paid for Their Time
Youth Advisory Group members are:
Paid for their time.
This is an important feature of the opportunity.
Co-operatives UK states that payment is intended to:
- Recognize the commitment involved
- Reduce barriers to participation
- Value young people’s contributions
- Support meaningful participation
The supplied call does not specify the exact payment rate or total amount.
Applicants should therefore consult the official information pack for precise details about:
- Payment arrangements
- Expected hours
- Meeting frequency
- Duration of membership
- Other participation conditions
The National Youth Summit
The Youth Advisory Group was launched at the:
Co-operatives UK National Youth Summit
in 2024.
The National Youth Summit is an annual event intended to:
- Increase young people’s understanding of co-operatives
- Build enthusiasm for co-operative approaches
- Create opportunities for learning
- Provide networking opportunities
- Bring young co-operators together
The establishment of the YAG created a more ongoing mechanism for young people to influence the organization beyond the annual summit.
Who Can Apply?
The main age requirement is clear:
Applicants must be aged 16 to 30.
The official announcement emphasizes that applications are welcomed from young people with:
All levels of experience and skills.
There is no requirement in the supplied call for applicants to hold:
- A university degree
- A professional qualification
- Previous employment experience
- Leadership experience
- Previous co-operative membership
This makes the opportunity considerably more accessible than many formal youth leadership programmes.
Experience Level
Applicants may be:
- Students
- Recent graduates
- Young professionals
- Workers
- Volunteers
- Entrepreneurs
- Co-operative members
- Community organizers
- People completely new to the co-operative movement
The key requirement is not a particular career status.
Instead, the application is intended to understand:
- Who you are
- Why you want to join the Youth Advisory Group
- What skills you can contribute
- What experience or perspective you bring
What Co-operatives UK Wants to Know About Applicants
The short application form asks candidates to provide information about:
- Who they are
- Why they want to become a Youth Advisory Group member
- Their skills
- Their experience
This means applicants should focus on authenticity rather than trying to present themselves as established experts.
A strong application should clearly communicate:
- What matters to you
- Why youth participation matters
- What perspective you would bring
- Why you are interested in co-operative ideas
- How you might contribute to the group
Applications Can Be Written, Video or Audio
Applicants are not limited to traditional written responses.
Co-operatives UK accepts applications through:
- Written text
- Video
- Audio
This can make the process more accessible to applicants who may communicate more effectively through different formats.
Candidates should choose the format that allows them to present their ideas most clearly and authentically.
Written Applications
Candidates who prefer writing can complete the application in text format.
A strong written response should be:
- Clear
- Specific
- Personal
- Concise
- Relevant
Applicants do not need to use highly formal corporate language.
The application is designed to understand the person behind the submission.
Video Applications
Young people who communicate more naturally on camera may submit responses through video.
A good video application might explain:
- Why you want to join
- What issues matter to you
- What perspective you can contribute
- How you would help strengthen youth engagement
Applicants should consult the application form and information pack for any technical requirements concerning video submissions.
Audio Applications
Audio responses are also accepted.
This can be particularly useful for candidates who are comfortable expressing their ideas verbally but do not want to appear on video.
Again, applicants should check the official application materials for format and submission instructions.
How to Apply
Applicants need to:
- Download and review the Youth Advisory Group information pack.
- Download the official application form.
- Complete the application.
- Choose written, video, or audio format where appropriate.
- Send the completed application to the official email address.
Applications should be sent to: youth@uk.coop
Official Application Resources
Applicants should consult two documents before applying:
Youth Advisory Group Information Pack
The information pack provides additional details about the opportunity and what participation involves.
Official information pack:
https://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/2026-08/YAG_2026_Information_pack_web.pdf
Youth Advisory Group Application Form
Applicants must complete the official application form.
Application form:
https://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/2026-08/YAG_Application_Form_2026.pdf
Application Deadline
Applications close at:
23:59 on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Applicants should send their submissions before the deadline.
Because applications may involve video or audio files, candidates using those formats should avoid waiting until the final minutes in case they encounter:
- File-size problems
- Upload difficulties
- Email issues
- Technical delays
Why Young People Should Consider Applying
The Youth Advisory Group offers a relatively unusual opportunity for young people to contribute directly to the strategic thinking of an established national organization.
Participants can potentially gain experience in:
- Advisory work
- Youth advocacy
- Strategic discussion
- Collaboration
- Public engagement
- Co-operative development
- Leadership
- Community engagement
- Social and economic policy conversations
Unlike programmes that focus primarily on training participants, this opportunity asks young people to contribute their existing experiences and perspectives to real organizational discussions.
Opportunity to Influence an Established Movement
The co-operative movement includes organizations operating across many sectors of society and the economy.
Young people participating in the YAG can contribute to discussions about how the movement evolves and responds to changing expectations.
This could be particularly valuable for candidates interested in questions such as:
- What should ethical business look like?
- How can workers have more influence?
- How can communities own local assets?
- How should organizations respond to climate change?
- How can young people participate more meaningfully in economic decision-making?
- What alternatives exist to traditional business ownership?
Applicants do not need to arrive with answers to these questions.
A willingness to engage with them can itself be valuable.
Skills Participants May Develop
Although the supplied call does not present a formal training curriculum, participation could help members strengthen transferable skills through practical involvement.
These may include:
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Strategic thinking
- Advocacy
- Public speaking
- Collaboration
- Idea development
- Constructive challenge
- Community engagement
- Stakeholder engagement
Members may also develop a stronger understanding of how organizational decision-making and youth participation operate in practice.
Building Networks
The Youth Advisory Group brings together young people from:
- Existing co-operatives
- The wider co-operative movement
- Different youth networks
- Backgrounds outside co-operatives
This creates opportunities for participants to meet peers with different experiences and perspectives.
For young people interested in:
- Social enterprise
- Co-operatives
- Sustainability
- Community development
- Youth leadership
- Alternative business models
the group may provide useful professional and personal connections.
Preparing a Strong Application
1. Explain Why the Opportunity Matters to You
Avoid giving a generic response such as:
“I want to develop my leadership skills.”
Instead, explain what specific issue motivates you.
Perhaps you care about:
- Climate action
- Fair employment
- Communities
- Ethical business
- Youth voice
- Economic inequality
Connect that interest with why the YAG appeals to you.
2. You Do Not Need to Pretend to Be a Co-operative Expert
The call explicitly welcomes applicants who are completely new to co-operatives.
If you are unfamiliar with the movement, say so honestly.
You could instead explain:
- Why you want to learn
- What perspective you bring from outside the movement
- What issues already matter to you
Being new to co-operatives is not presented as a disadvantage.
3. Give Concrete Examples
When discussing your skills, use examples.
Instead of saying:
“I am a good communicator,”
you might explain how you:
- Organized a student project
- Spoke at a community event
- Ran social media for a group
- Volunteered with young people
- Participated in a campaign
- Helped resolve a disagreement
Evidence makes an application stronger.
4. Explain What Young People Need
The YAG exists partly to make Co-operatives UK more responsive to younger generations.
Think about:
- What young people currently worry about
- What opportunities they need
- Why traditional institutions may not engage them
- How co-operatives could become more relevant
Your perspective does not need to match everyone else’s.
The purpose of an advisory group is partly to hear different views.
5. Choose the Best Application Format for You
You can apply using:
- Writing
- Video
- Audio
Do not automatically choose written text because it seems more formal.
Use whichever format lets you communicate most effectively.
Important Details at a Glance
Organization: Co-operatives UK
Programme: Youth Advisory Group
Abbreviation: YAG
Established: 2024
Applicant age: 16–30
Previous co-operative experience: Not required
Experience level: All levels welcome
Payment: Members are paid for their time
Application formats: Written, video, or audio
Application email: youth@uk.coop
Deadline: 6 September 2026 at 23:59
Information: https://www.uk.coop/news/applications-now-open-co-operatives-uks-youth-advisory-group
Conclusion
The Co-operatives UK Youth Advisory Group 2026 offers young people aged 16 to 30 an opportunity to have a meaningful voice in discussions about the future of the co-operative movement.
Established in 2024, the group works alongside Co-operatives UK to provide strategic advice, generate new ideas, challenge existing thinking, advocate for youth participation, and increase awareness of co-operative approaches among younger generations.
The opportunity is deliberately accessible. Applicants do not need previous co-operative experience, a university degree, a particular profession, or extensive leadership credentials. Young people with all levels of skills and experience are encouraged to apply.
The group may be particularly relevant to young people interested in fairness, climate action, community development, youth participation, sustainability, or alternative approaches to business and ownership.
Importantly, Youth Advisory Group members are paid for their time, recognizing both their contribution and the commitment involved.
Applications can be submitted in written, video, or audio format, allowing candidates to choose the communication method that works best for them.
Applicants must complete the official application form and send it to youth@uk.coop.
The application deadline is 23:59 on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
To learn more about this opportunity, VISIT HERE.
To explore more global opportunities, CLICK HERE.
Share this:
Discover more from Opportunities for Youth
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
