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| Young Greens of England and Wales | |
|---|---|
| Name | Young Greens of England and Wales |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Predecessor | Green Party youth wings |
| Headquarters | London |
| Ideology | Green politics, Environmentalism, Social justice, Grassroots democracy |
| Mother party | Green Party of England and Wales |
Young Greens of England and Wales is the youth wing associated with the Green Party of England and Wales that organises activists aged typically 14–30 across England and Wales. It operates as a network of regional and local groups focused on environmental campaigns, social justice advocacy, and political education, working alongside trade unions such as the Public and Commercial Services Union and civil society organisations including Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion. The organisation participates in electoral campaigns, issues policy proposals, and hosts conferences that attract speakers from institutions like the House of Commons, the European Parliament (prior to Brexit), and the Local Government Association.
The youth movement traces roots to early 1990s youth sections connected to the Green Party and earlier green collectives active in the aftermath of events such as the Chernobyl disaster and campaigns like the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. During the 1990s and 2000s the organisation formalised structures influenced by international counterparts including the Federation of Young European Greens and the Global Young Greens. It grew through engagement with high-profile protests including collaborations with Stop the War Coalition rallies and environmental direct actions inspired by Earth Summit-era activism. Electoral milestones, such as coordination around European Parliament election, 2009 (United Kingdom) and growth in local representation after the Local elections, 2010s reinforced its role within the Green Party of England and Wales ecosystem.
The network comprises regional clusters in areas such as Greater London, West Midlands, South West England, and Wales, with local branches linked to constituency parties and student groups on campuses like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, and University of Manchester. Governance combines elected convenors and campaign officers with working groups focusing on policy, outreach, and training; these officers liaise with party bodies such as the Green Party Council and the Green Party Executive Committee. Decision-making utilises delegated assemblies and national conferences modelled after assemblies in organisations like the Young European Greens and voting procedures akin to those used by trade unions such as the Trades Union Congress. Youth representatives have secured places on party committees, mirroring youth representation practices seen in parties including the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.
Policy priorities reflect green platforms emphasising climate action, biodiversity, and social equity; landmark campaign themes have included rapid decarbonisation aligned with targets discussed at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties conferences and protecting habitats designated under legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Campaigns have allied with organisations like Sierra Club and Greenpeace on international initiatives, and with domestic movements addressing housing via links to groups such as Shelter (charity) and labour rights through coordination with Unison. The body has produced position papers advocating for reforms in areas covered by statutes such as the Equality Act 2010 and joined coalitions responding to policy proposals debated in forums like the House of Commons Select Committees.
Regular activities include training weekends, educational workshops, and national conferences that feature panels with speakers from institutions including the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament (for comparative panels), and the European Green Party prior to withdrawal from the European Union. Grassroots actions have ranged from campus demonstrations coordinated with student unions such as the National Union of Students (United Kingdom) to participation in climate strikes inspired by movements like Fridays for Future. The organisation organises campaigning days during national contests such as the United Kingdom general election, 2019 and regional coordination for contests like the Welsh Parliament election, 2021, alongside cultural events and fundraising concerts similar to benefit events organised by groups like War Child.
Membership is open to young people meeting age criteria and often overlapping with membership of the Green Party of England and Wales; student members affiliate through campus groups recognised by student bodies such as Students' Union associations at universities including University of Brighton and University of Leeds. Affiliation with umbrella networks includes ties to the Federation of Young European Greens and the Global Young Greens, and collaborative links with civic organisations like Oxfam and The Climate Coalition for campaign partnerships. The organisation has used membership drives mirroring practices of youth wings in parties such as the Conservative Party and has engaged in outreach to under-represented communities referencing frameworks from equality organisations like Stonewall.
Members campaign in local council elections, mayoral contests such as the Mayor of London races, and parliamentary elections, coordinating with Green Party candidates including notable figures who have contested constituencies such as Brighton Pavilion and Sheffield Hallam. The youth wing has run training for candidates on canvassing strategies used in contests like the General election, 2017 and supported youth-focused policy platforms in manifestos adopted for elections such as the European Parliament election, 2014 (United Kingdom). Electoral involvement includes joint efforts with grassroots campaign groups like Power to Change and comparative engagement with youth wings of other parties such as Young Labour and the Young Conservatives during hustings and policy debates.
Communications include regular newsletters, briefing papers, and multimedia output shared via platforms comparable to those used by organisations such as The Guardian for outreach and by digital campaigns in the style of Change.org petitions. The group produces policy papers, campaigning toolkits, and op-eds placed in publications like Socialist Worker and student papers such as The Tab and Varsity (newspaper). Social media campaigns utilise networks similar to those of NGOs like 350.org and have engaged podcast and video content in formats seen on channels such as YouTube and audio platforms akin to BBC Sounds for interviews with activists and elected members.
Category:Youth organisations in England Category:Youth organisations in Wales Category:Green Party of England and Wales