Youth platform

The youth platform is basically the first Spot. Young people can share what matters to them and help shape policy.

What is the youth platform?

The Youth Platform is a network of youth organizations, including Tienskip, Amaryllis, and Leeuwarden Student. Through their contacts, they connect young people with the municipality in an easy way.

Policy officers, in turn, can really listen to young people and use their ideas when making decisions.

What are the guiding principles?

  1. Structural influence for young people: young people are continuously involved in policy that affects their world. Their input is visibly reflected in policy choices.
  2. Access through existing youth communities: participating organisations reach young people through their own networks, keeping participation accessible and familiar.
  3. Diversity and inclusion lead the way: the platform involves a broad and diverse group of young people, so that its advice represents the whole municipality.
  4. Working according to Code Young: the platform uses the hourglass model with (1) a broad survey, (2) deepening and (3) a broad check. This makes its advice widely supported, practical and fed back to young people.
  5. Accessible participation: young people can take part in ways that fit their time, energy and situation.
  6. Shared responsibility: the municipality and youth organisations organise youth participation together. The municipality asks questions about themes and processes the advice. Partners guide young people and bring in their own themes too.
  7. Learning and developing: the platform keeps developing.
  8. Structurally embedded: the youth platform is growing into a permanent part of the municipal organisation, making youth participation sustainable and future-proof.
Two young people dance in the street in front of a large colourful mural in Leeuwarden.

How does the youth platform work?

The youth platform works through two routes:
  1. Themes from young people: signals from youth communities are brought in.
  2. Questions from the municipality: policy questions are put to young people.

What is the goal?

The goal is for the youth platform to be involved in all policy affecting young people after 2028. That is why the platform is being developed into a permanent part of the municipal organisation over the coming years.