Youth Advisory Board.

Young people at the heart of Brave Mind

At Brave Mind, we believe that young people are experts in their own lives. If we’re serious about improving mental health through sport, then the voices of young people must shape everything we do.  Not as an afterthought, but at the centre.

That’s why we’re currently developing a Youth Advisory Board (YAB).

The YAB will be a meaningful platform for young people aged 16–24 to influence Brave Mind’s strategy, programmes and future direction. It will ensure that our work stays relevant, inclusive and grounded in lived experience, and that youth voice is embedded across the organisation not tokenistic, but powerful and respected. 

What is the Youth Advisory Board?

The YAB will be a group of young
people from diverse backgrounds who care about mental health, sport and social change.

The YAB will have a clear route into
Brave Mind’s governance, with youth representatives feeding directly into board-level decision-making. This ensures that young people’s insights genuinely influence how decisions
are made. 

Members will work alongside Brave Mind’s staff and Trustees to:

  • Shape organisational strategy
    and priorities

  • Co-design and review mental
    health programmes

  • Influence how we engage
    young people in schools, clubs
    and communities

  • Contribute to communications, campaigns and messaging

  • Help strengthen our values, culture and commitment to inclusion

How it will work

We are designing the YAB to be supportive, accessible and empowering.

No prior experience will be needed - just a willingness to share ideas, listen to others and help shape positive change. 

Members will receive:

  • A full induction and ongoing training

  • Mentoring and wellbeing support

  • Reimbursement for expenses and support to remove barriers to participation

  • Flexible ways to contribute, including online meetings

  • Opportunities to develop leadership, confidence and skills

Recruitment timeline

We are currently finalising the structure and support around the YAB and plan
to open full recruitment in spring/summer 2026.

Recruitment will be open, accessible and designed to welcome young people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences including those with lived experience of mental health challenges and those involved in, or with an opinion on sport at any level.

If you’re a young person aged 16–24 who would like to be involved—or if you’re a parent, coach, teacher or organisation supporting a young person who might be interested, we’d love to hear from you.

Get in touch

Registering your interest now doesn’t commit you to anything. It simply helps us shape the YAB in a way that works for the young people it’s designed for.

Together, we’re building something brave - led by young voices, powered by lived experience, and rooted in sport.

Contact us.