New members of Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority announced

• Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority (GMYCA) has confirmed its new membership for 2022-24
• New members comprise youth organisations from across Greater Manchester representing the diversity of the city-region’s young people
• New members will serve a two-year term, starting in April 2022 until 2024

GREATER Manchester Youth Combined Authority (GMYCA) has confirmed it new membership, revealing which organisations will form the group until 2024.

GMYCA is an inclusive body comprising young people aged between 11 and 18 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs) from 26 different youth organisations from across Greater Manchester. Members were selected following an application process assessed by a panel, with organisations selected to reflect the diverse backgrounds and demographics within Greater Manchester.

Alongside the youth councils of all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs, the confirmed members of the GMYCA 2022-24 cohort are:

• Be The Change Youth Project
• Blossom Foundation
• Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN)
• GM Army Cadet Force
• Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service (GMFRS)
• GM Youth Network (GMYN)
• Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside
• Hideout Youth Zone
• KYSO Project CIC
• Manchester Youth Zone
• One Manchester
• Rochdale Connections Trust
• Spectrum Gaming
• The Proud Trust
• Water Adventure Centre (WAC)
• Youth Leads UK

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Thank you to every organisation that took the time to apply to join GMYCA. We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from Greater Manchester’s youth organisations.

“Greater Manchester Youth Combined Authority is part of my commitment to make our city-region one of the best places to grow up and get on. I welcome every new member and challenge them to put young people at the heart of making Greater Manchester a greener, fairer, and more prosperous city-region.”

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, GMCA Lead for Young People said: “Thank you to all members leaving the GMYCA. You have been great advocates, from helping design and create Our Pass to opening our annual Green Summit events. You should all be proud of your efforts.

“And welcome to every organisation joining us. We had a strong and varied field of candidates, and I’m confident that our new cohort of members will continue to make a real difference to the lives of all young people in Greater Manchester.”

GMYCA was the first Youth Combined Authority in the country when it was created in 2018, and the model is being replicated across the UK through youth-led initiatives, including West Midlands Combined Authority and London Youth Assembly.

In its first four years, GMYCA members have provided a powerful and influential voice for young people across the city-region, contributing to the development of policies, strategies and decisions on a number of issues. Its key achievements include:

• Helping to create Our Pass, providing free bus travel across Greater Manchester for those aged 16-18, supporting school leavers and care leavers
• Presenting at Youth Select Committees on the Curriculum for Life and knife crime
• Speaking at the Northern Power Futures Conference and two Conferences of the North
• Contributing to Greater Manchester’s annual Green Summit conferences, including taking part in a question-and-answer sessions with the Mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region
• Co-hosting the Meet Your Future launch event in April 2019