FOI - London Youth Assembly [Aug 2025]

Your request 

RE London Youth Assembly Structure, Cost, and Membership

Budget & Costs

• What was the total cost of running the London Youth Assembly in the most recent financial year?
• How much public funding is allocated to it annually?
• What are the main cost components (e.g. staffing, events, communications, training, venues)?

Membership & Selection

• How many young people currently sit on the Youth Assembly?
• How are members selected or elected?
• What criteria are used to ensure political balance or regional diversity across London?
• Could you provide a current list of Youth Assembly members (or a representative breakdown: age, borough, school type, etc.)?
• Why is there a different age bracket requirement based on disability?

Purpose & Outcomes

• What are the formal aims or objectives of the London Youth Assembly?
• What influence does it have on actual London Assembly decisions or Mayoral policy?
• Are there any notable policy changes or campaigns that have resulted from its work?
• How is success measured, and who is accountable for outcomes?
• Under which Mayor was it founded?

Governance & Oversight

• Which department or officer is responsible for overseeing the Youth Assembly?
• How is its performance evaluated internally or by external reviewers?

Political Involvement & Activities

• Have any Assembly Members or the Mayor been directly involved in the Youth Assembly’s recent events or decisions?
• Does the Youth Assembly take public positions on current London issues (e.g. policing, climate, transport, housing)?
• Has the Assembly issued any statements or motions recently? If so, could you share them?

Our response

• What was the total cost of running the London Youth Assembly in the most recent financial year? How much public funding is allocated to it annually? What are the main cost components (e.g. staffing, events, communications, training, venues)?

City Hall is used for formal meetings so there are no external meeting costs. LYA Members do not receive an allowance but may claim travel expenses for LYA meetings (typically around 4 a year). Communications and other support are provided through London Assembly staff and there are no posts dedicated solely to supporting the LYA.

• How many young people currently sit on the Youth Assembly?

38 Members

• How are members selected or elected?

The selection process is a matter for the individual boroughs. Each borough can provide 2 members each year.

• What criteria are used to ensure political balance or regional diversity across London?

LYA Members do not represent specific political parties and instead are asked to come together to reflect and input a range of experiences of being a young person in London. Regional diversity is achieved by having up to 2 representatives from each borough.

• Could you provide a current list of Youth Assembly members (or a representative breakdown: age, borough, school type, etc.)?

The full list of the Youth Assembly Members is exempt from disclosure under s.40 (Personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act. This information identifies specific youths and as such constitutes as personal data which is defined by Article 4(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to mean any information relating to an identified or identifiable living individual. It is considered that disclosure of this information would contravene the first data protection principle under Article 5(1) of GDPR which states that Personal data must be processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subject.

Details of the LYA Chair and Deputy Chair can be found on our website: The London Youth Assembly | London City Hall

We do not hold information on school type. Most boroughs currently have representatives. All members are between the ages of 11-19 (or 25 for those with disability) with the majority of them being aged between 16-18.

• Why is there a different age bracket requirement based on disability?

This reflects a desire to ensure the LYA can include a broad range of perspectives and experiences, allowing boroughs to draw on a broader number of young people with a disability.

• What are the formal aims or objectives of the London Youth Assembly?

The LYA aims to get young Londoners engaged and involved in the running of their city, providing a space through which they can learn about democratic institutions and processes, bring issues that matter to them to the forefront of local politics and input directly into the work of the London Assembly. It provides an opportunity to learn and build important skills including team working, public speaking, drafting and advocacy. LYA members have the opportunity to engage with Assembly Members, discuss key themes across London as they affect young people and put forward evidence to London Assembly Committee investigations.

• Are there any notable policy changes or campaigns that have resulted from its work? How is success measured, and who is accountable for outcomes? How is its performance evaluated internally or by external reviewers? How is success measured, and who is accountable for outcomes?

The LYA doesn't operate to formal KPIs or targets, reflecting the nature of the body. There is a minimum expectation that the Youth Assembly will meet formally 4 times a year. Desired outcomes are determined by the Chair and Deputy Chair at the start of each year.
The LYA Chair works closely with the Chair of the London Assembly, and with officials in the London Assembly Secretariat.

The Executive Director of the Assembly Secretariat is responsible for oversight.

• Under which Mayor was it founded?

Sadiq Khan – Please note that the LYA is a London Assembly initiative, not a matter for the Mayor.

• Which department or officer is responsible for overseeing the Youth Assembly?

The London Assembly Secretariat

• Have any Assembly Members or the Mayor been directly involved in the Youth Assembly’s recent events or decisions?

The LYA works closely with Assembly Members who attend LYA meetings to discuss topics of interest to LYA Members, including live London Assembly Committee investigations.
London Assembly Members are involved in LYA meetings and events such as the London Youth Achievement Awards, but decisions on the LYA work programme and areas of focus are matters for LYA members, with support from GLA officials.

• Does the Youth Assembly take public positions on current London issues (e.g. policing, climate, transport, housing)?

The London Youth Assembly feed into relevant London Assembly Committee investigations and submissions can be used in published Committee outputs. The London Youth Assembly might write to the London Assembly or other relevant stakeholders to highlight issues or matters of concern or interest.

• What influence does it have on actual London Assembly decisions or Mayoral policy?

As above, whilst the London Youth Assembly does not have a formal role in respect of London Assembly decisions, it does take opportunities to provide evidence to London Assembly Committee investigations, and to highlight to Assembly Members issues of potential interest or concern.

For example, they have recently submitted evidence to London Assembly investigations on Accessibility in Transport and Violence against Women and girls.

• Has the Assembly issued any statements or motions recently? If so, could you share them?

N/A