Youth Consultation Panel
The Jack Petchey Foundation is committed to ensuring young people and their voices are embedded throughout all aspects of our work.
In 2019, the Youth Consultation Panel (YCP) was created and currently consists of twelve young people, all of whom have engaged with one or more of the many Jack Petchey Foundation programmes. This group of dynamic young people meet monthly and are committed to highlighting and amplifying young people’s voices and opinions to our Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees.
YCP members are consulted in the creation and design of our grant programmes and play a critical role in grant assessments, making sure we fund the most relevant and effective programmes and that there are sufficient resources available to continue making a difference to young people. Reviewing and providing feedback on the delivery of our programmes, including our flagship Achievement Award Celebration Events, is also an integral part of their role.
By spreading positive messages and recognising and promoting their achievements, the YCP is already helping to change negative attitudes and stereotypes surrounding young people.
The JPF Board of Trustees is committed to youth voice and, as well as an annual joint meeting of the JPF Board and YCP, members of the YCP can apply for the role of Youth Trustee on the Board to ensure that young people’s ideas and opinions are captured and represented at the highest strategic level within the Foundation.
We are extremely proud of our YCP members and believe that their influence and positive contributions will continue to help the Jack Petchey Foundation in its mission to empower young people as future leaders.
Want to know more about the YCP? Read this blog by one of our YCP members!
Interested in joining the YCP? Register your interest today!
Meet Our Youth Consultation Panel!
Esme (she/her)
Esme was introduced to JPF by her secondary school geography teacher, who told her about the Environmental Award created by the Jack Petchey Foundation. After raising money for her school to buy recycling bins, she decided to apply — and to her surprise, she won!
She then joined the Achiever’s Network and had an amazing time getting involved in all the activities and development opportunities. Once she’d completed the Achiever Network scheme, she applied to the YCP, where she’s been a member since 2025.
Esme believes JPF is an inspiring programme that really lifts people up and gives young people the space to grow. She’s genuinely excited to be part of it and to share her own ideas.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Fizza
Fizza was introduced to JPF through the Jack Petchey Speak Out! Challenge, where she became the Regional Champion for Barnet and later one of the 15 Grand Finalists in the 2018-19 Grand Final. She joined the eighth cohort of the Achievers’ Network and then became part of the YCP in 2020. Fizza believes in the amazing work JPF does for young people and hopes to bring enthusiasm and passion for change to the YCP panel.
Fizza is a student at the University of Oxford, where she is pursuing a degree in English Language and Literature. She has a passion for karate, cinema, languages, and performing.
“I hope to bring enthusiasm and passion for change to the panel, as well as using my love of meeting new people to create new connections with other organisations’ youth panels (and maybe even put my English degree to good use!).”
Hetvi (she/her)
Hetvi is currently pursuing a degree in Business Management. She progressed from Achiever Network 10 to the YCP in 2022 and now serves as Youth Lead for the Panathlon Programme, championing young disabled voices.
She has proudly represented the Jack Petchey Foundation at 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace. Her blog, “Hetvi on Motivating Herself and Others,” and her interview with the former Lord Mayor of Westminster reflect her passion for inspiring change. In her free time, Hetvi enjoys baking, day trips, travelling, and capturing memories through photography.
“As a disabled young person, I feel very supported and proud to be part of the Jack Petchey Foundation. The Foundation gives me opportunities to motivate myself and grow my skills. I aim to help them better support young disabled people. I will always hold on to the memories I create and look forward to what comes next with their support.”
Izzy (she/her)
Izzy is a student studying Psychology to access a career in Criminal Profiling. She first met the Foundation when she was the runner up for the 2022 Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge Grand Final, in which she spoke about her tic disorder. This led to Izzy joining the Achiever Network in 2024 and most recently joining the YCP in 2025.
Izzy loves volunteering at Jack Petchey events, being part of the Foundation and sharing the JPF experience. She is excited to continue to develop her passions within the YCP!
““For it is in giving that we receive” – Francis of Assisi
Kaz (they/them)
Kaz is based in Epping Forest, and currently in the last year of studying their A-Levels in Psychology, Media and Literature, They’re now exploring options to study Politics and Philosophy at university. As a member of various youth organisations, and a Member of Youth Parliament, Kaz seeks to amplify youth voice throughout decision-making across the board, and improve the lives of young people in their local area and beyond.
Besides politics and youth voice, their hobbies include guitar, painting, and writing!
Kaz first got involved with JPF when they won an Achievement Award in 2019, and has been a YCP member for almost two years.
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
Larry
Larry is in last year of Sixth Form where he is studying Maths, Physics, Biology and Further Maths and hopes to study engineering at university next year. His passions are camping, tennis and hiking.
He was first introduced to the Jack Petchey Foundation by his youth group, Woodcraft Folk, and was later awarded the achievement award for supporting his peers. Following the award, he gained a place on the Achievers Network program as part of the 11th cohort and developed confidence in his public speaking, as well as working together with the talented young people who were also on the Program.
Larry has devoted hundreds of hours to volunteering with young people and is the current London Youth Lead for the YCP where he strives to ensure the maximum impact for all young people, regardless of background, in London and Essex.
“Young people are the future, hear their voices” – World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Maja
Maja is an Electronic and Electrical Engineering student at UCL. She first became involved in the Jack Petchey Foundation when taking part in Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge where she placed 2nd in her regional final. She is also an alumni of Achiever Network 11.
Maja believes the mindset of JPF is so refreshing since young people are treated with respect and are actively encouraged to entirely be themselves. She thinks JPF has changed the lives of many young people; she finds it inspirational that a young person’s confidence and self-image can be entirely transformed by the programmes run by the foundation.
Whilst being part of AN11, Maja was introduced to the YCP. She’s excited to be a part of the YCP since she aspires to be involved in an organisation that allows young people’s voices to be heard.
“And above all, do not be ashamed of yourself, for that is the root of it all” – Fyodor Dostoevsky
“I am incredibly grateful to be a member of the YCP. I have learnt so much from my peers and am in constant awe of how much the JPF contributes to the lives of young people. I’m excited to give back to an organisation that has given me so much!”
Matthew (he/him)
Matthew first became involved with JPF in 2016 when he joined Achiever Network 5, having won an Achievement Award through the Epping Forest Youth Council.
After studying at the University of Exeter, Matthew returned to the Achiever Network as a mentor in 2021, a role which allowed him to work one-to-one with new Achiever Network members to help with their development.
Now a full-time Risk Consultant, Matthew volunteers with the Jack Petchey Foundation in his spare time, joining the YCP to help the Foundation grow, while always remembering its founding purpose: to inspire, motivate and allow young people to achieve!
“It’s a real privilege to be part of the YCP, especially as we enter JPF’s 25th birthday year! I am looking forward to being part of a team that will help guide the Jack Petchey Foundation into the future; I’m excited about giving something back to the Foundation that gave me the opportunity to grow and develop.”
Mayumi
Mayumi is an English Literature student at the University of Warwick, where she is the Editor-in-Chief of the LGBTQ+ magazine Planorama. She also works as the Student Network Coordinator for LGBTQ+ students within the English Department.
Her history with the Jack Petchey Foundation is incredibly varied; In 2021 she won the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge and is also an alumnus of the Achiever Network 10 cohort. These experiences helped her develop her confidence within supportive environments.
Mayumi is a member of the YCP because she is passionate about advocating for young people to get involved in artistic extracurricular activities and uplifting diverse and marginalised young people who are not always spotlighted in media.
“My confidence has flourished under the support from the Jack Petchey Foundation, and I’m always excited to help the foundation continue to make a positive impact on young peoples’ lives.“
Michaylia
Michaylia is an A-level student, and a finalist of the 2020 Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge organised by Speaker’s Trust and the Jack Petchey Foundation. She then joined the Achiever Network’s ninth cohort, where she improved her confidence and experienced new things. She has since volunteered with the Speakers Trust at Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge events to enable other young people to benefit from public speaking training.
Michaylia is now a member of the YCP and hopes to bring young people’s voices to the front of discussions and programmes created by the Foundation.
“I’m so grateful to be apart of an organisation that allows young people to make decisions FOR other young people. I’m excited to have a part in making those decisions with the YCP.”
Ruby-Tuesday (she/her)
Ruby‑Tuesday is an A‑Level student currently studying psychology, sociology and textiles. She joined the Jack Petchey network in Year 10 through the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, where she campaigned for better brain tumour research after a personal experience. After winning Waltham Forest’s Regional Speak Out Final, she went on to perform at the 2024 Grand Final.
Through her advocacy work, Ruby‑Tuesday has raised over £7,000 for charities, including Great Ormond Street. She later joined the Achievers Network, which only strengthened her love for the Jack Petchey Foundation. From there, she applied to the YCP to bring fresh ideas on how to better support young people.
She enjoys public speaking, psychology, crocheting and baking, and she’s excited to learn from and contribute to the committee alongside other passionate young people.
“I’m so grateful to be apart of an organisation that allows young people to make decisions FOR other young people. I’m excited to have a part in making those decisions with the YCP.”
Samantha
Samantha became a member of the Jack Petchey Foundation alumni in 2018, when she won an Achievement Award from her school. The following year, her school was invited to recommend potential candidates for the Achievers Network programme, where Samantha applied and was accepted to the eighth cohort.
At the end of the yearlong programme, and in the midst of the pandemic, the YCP held the first ever JPF Digital Youth event, which young people signed up to take part in. From this event, Samantha was keen to become involved in the work undertaken by the YCP. As a keen writer, she felt that her journalism skills would be well utilised and that she wanted to continue giving back to the Foundation and the young people it helps.
Samantha is currently studying the International Baccalaureate and is a very keen baker!
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there” – John Assaraf
