If you spend any time in schools at the moment, one thing becomes clear quite quickly. Young people are navigating a lot. Confidence, friendships, wellbeing, identity, pressure to succeed. This generation in particular is growing up in environments shaped by constant connectivity, social media pressures, and a wider sense of uncertainty about the future they are stepping into. The impact of this shows up in different ways, including their access to and how they feel about sport and physical activity.  

And yet, being active can play a really important role in helping young people manage all of this. Sport and physical activity can support mental wellbeing, build confidence, and offer a positive outlet for stress and pressure. It also creates opportunities to connect with others, develop resilience and create a sense of belonging. 

Educators are well aware of these challenges, and at the Youth Sport Trust we are proud to work alongside teachers, leaders, and policymakers to explore solutions. Yet the most crucial voice in these conversations is often the one we must not overlook: the young people themselves. 

That is exactly where the Young Ambassadors movement comes in. 

Young Ambassadors is built on a simple idea: trust young people to be the voice of their peers and lead change in their own schools and communities through sport and physical activity. The movement exists because they understand the challenges they are navigating better than anyone else. And when they are given the space and support to lead, they come up with solutions that their peers respond to. 

More than just about getting more young people active, it’s primarily about creating space for young people to shape their own experiences. Through this, they are influencing the systems, culture and opportunities in their schools and communities, using physical activity as one of the tools to make that change happen. 

This last school year alone, just under 300 young people have stepped into Young Ambassador roles across England, supported by around 60 practitioners helping to embed the movement locally.  

From Hull to Cornwall, these Young Ambassadors have been identifying the most important issues within their environments and then designing solutions using sport and physical activity as a tool for change. Some of the key areas and the changes we have seen include: 

• Finding Belonging 
  Many students feel self-conscious, unsure where they fit in, or without a group to join. For some, that’s enough to stop them taking part in sport at all. Young Ambassadors are changing that by creating relaxed, low-pressure spaces where enjoyment comes first, such as social clubs, mixed activities, and safe gym sessions. 

• Expanding Opportunities 
  Traditional sports aren’t always suitable or appealing for everyone. Girls, students with additional needs, young carers, and those who don’t see themselves as “sporty” often miss out. Young people are reshaping activities to be more inclusive, including introducing girls-only sessions, non-competitive options, and lunchtime opportunities for those who can’t stay after school. 

• Connecting Wellbeing and Sport 
  Sport isn’t just about moving; it’s about feeling better too. Walking-and-talking groups, discussion-based sessions, and inclusive activities are helping young people manage stress, navigate mental health challenges, and improve relationships.  

• Shaping Healthier Habits 
  Current challenges, such as too much screen time, vaping, or difficulty focusing, are also being tackled by Young Ambassadors. Step challenges, movement breaks, and lunchtime activities offer simple, realistic ways to make healthier choices part of daily school life. 

• Building Culture and Community 
  To further inclusive opportunities, some students are encouraged to bring in games from their own cultures or create activities that connect students and staff in new ways. Through these efforts, sport becomes a tool for building a stronger, more connected community. 

Youth voice leading to youth-led change 

Through the movement, Young Ambassadors grow as leaders by putting their skills into practice in real situations. They start by listening to their peers and understanding what really matters, before shaping ideas and taking action in ways that feel relevant and meaningful. In doing so, they create positive change for others while building their own confidence and capability along the way.  

There is a growing recognition across education that student voice matters. But too often, it sits at the level of consultation rather than action. 

When young people are trusted to lead, they create solutions that feel more relevant and more inclusive, reaching students who might otherwise be left out. In a time when many schools are trying to support wellbeing, engagement and belonging all at once, listening to your students and giving them agency can be a powerful tool. 

Want to get involved? 

To support more settings to get involved, Youth Sport Trust has new open-access resources now available for secondary schools. These are designed to help schools embed youth voice and support young people to lead change through sport and physical activity in a way that works for their context. 

You can explore the resources and see examples of how schools are already bringing this to life here.