
Jacob Milligan Photography
Our Youth Engagement Service (YES) was established in 2017. It aims to ensure that children and young people, who are often under-represented groups in our society, have genuine input into a development proposal. This includes the design of buildings, play spaces, public realm and public art at the early stage of the planning process.
The Youth Engagement Team engages children in the subjects of planning, design and sustainability, and inspires them to consider pursuing careers in these fields. Youth engagement fits with National Planning Policy Framework policies 132 and 133, adopted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan policies SCI, HQ/1, HQ2, adopted Cambridge City Local Plan policies 55-57.
Benefits of youth engagement
- Social impact and social value - having a genuine input into design through partnership working. Our officers and developers work together to ensure development proposals reflect children and young people’s design input.
- our YES team produces a Youth Engagement Report for developers to guide their proposals. This would be submitted as part of the planning application to support the Statement of Community Involvement
- guidance about how to start a career in the built and natural environment. and planning
- the opportunity to develop a clear understanding of the design and planning work that has gone behind development proposals. This can help them understand the value of good governance.
- confidence building for children and young people
- enhance the education experience for children and young people on National curriculum subjects such as geography, design and technology, citizenship, ICT
- supports partnership working between the local planning authority, local communities and developers.
Our service package and cost
- Advisory Service
- Enabling Service
- Direct Delivery
The costs of the Advisory Service and Enabling Service will be based on the complexity of the development proposals and the level of staffing required.
The Direct Delivery Service package costs £7,855 + VAT = £9,427.
Please note that the above payment is required before the YES Team starts any work.

Additional services
- Career advice outreach service
- Youth Engagement training and development
- Work Experience Programme
- Apprenticeships
Youth Engagement Framework
Case studies
- Melbourn Science Park – Street Furniture and public art
- The Welding Alloy site in Fowlmere - Street Furniture, architecture, biodiversity project and public art
- Vitrum site in St. Johns Innovation Park – Street Furniture, policy input into the masterplanning process
- Bourn Careers Fair
Accolades
- Winner of the Thornton Education Trust Best Local Authority in Youth Engagement Award 2023
- Winner of the Thornton Education Trust Youth Engagement Practitioner Award 2023
- Winner of the Thornton Education Trust Youth Engagement Practitioner Award 2022
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust Community Engagement Award 2023
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust Social Value Award 2023
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust Long-term programme for Children Award 2023
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust Mentoring Award 2023
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust School Collaborations Award 2022
- Finalist of the Thornton Education Trust Social Value Award 2022
Press articles
Enquiries
- Bonnie Kwok: Bonnie.Kwok@greatercambridgeplanning.org
- Tom Davies: Tom.Davies@greatercambridgeplanning.org
Useful information
- School Children Career Advice Booklet – Built and Natural Environment
- School Children Career Advice Toolkit Game
