Our Youth Movement: Politika

Empowering Young People through Public Policy

As the RADIX Youth Wing, we aim to engage young people with politics through tangible output by providing a platform for policy papers, opinion articles and events with the long-term mission of increasing youth voter turnout and electoral participation.

"Our Vision is for youth turnout in elections to match that of the oldest generation, by providing a platform for young people to create political content and host pragmatic policy debate, so as to stimulate positive ideas for change makers"

Our Policy Ideas Competition

From the two-child benefit cap to free school meals to the abolition of the Erasmus scheme, there is no group more impacted by policy, yet so constrained from political action, than young people.

Young people often get an unfair reputation as being politically disengaged- but is it really any surprise when so many major decisions that categorically impact young people were made without their consent? Let’s also not forget that this generation of teenagers has grown up in an age of increasing turmoil: in the shadow of the 2008 financial crash, and subsequently in the COVID recession.

Rather than further penalising young people for a perceived lack of political interest, we believe it is better to encourage a passion for politics from the ground up. By breaking down the wall between the dynamic aspect of policy making and the enactment of legislation, we hope to demystify the political process.

So, “Policy Ideas for Political Change” was launched. It is a competition which challenges young people to come up with a policy proposal to tackle an issue that they find significant. In doing so, we hope that the real impact of politics and the reality of governmental process is brought home to young people.

Submissions for the competition are opened on the 20th of May and close on the 20th of September. Anyone from the ages of 16-18 in the UK is able to enter.

Winners will have the opportunity to have their paper discussed with some of the top policy thinkers in the UK, in addition to having their proposal published on the Radix blog website. Judges include Jo Phillips (journalist and former spin doctor) and Sir Vince Cable (former leader of the Liberal Democrats).

Excitingly, we were thrilled to get a shoutout from one of the UK’s top podcasts, The Rest Is Politics. Hosted by former Number 10 Communications Director, Alastair Campbell and former Conservative MP, Rory Stewart, raising the level of political discourse with young people is an issue near and dear to both. So much so that they have generously agreed to share the winning idea on The Rest Is Politics, a massive opportunity for the winning entrant.

Opportunities like this are phenomenal on a CV or personal statement, as well as providing an excellent opportunity to further a passion for politics.

If you are a young person who wants to become the master of your generation’s political destiny, then this competition is for you. Share your big policy idea to enact the change you want to see in the UK, and win a phenomenal opportunity to appear alongside former world leaders.

Enter using this link