About Us

The Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council is a youth development charity, working to enable young people to become active citizens through shared lives, developing friendships, exchanging ideas and working together.

“It’s a fundamental way for young people to learn about themselves, the world they live in, and how to work together to change it.”

Our mission is to:

• Benefit young people by supporting the development of locally-managed high quality exchange visits and programmes that promote skills for employability, global citizenship and inter-cultural understanding;
• Support youth-led development activities and networks that promote interchange and young people’s voice in the Commonwealth and internationally; and
• Raise awareness of the Commonwealth, especially among young people.

Each year we help over 1,000 young people take part in a powerful personal and community development programme, such as a Commonwealth youth exchange. Over 35% of young people taking part have recognised social or economic disadvantage. Every participant develops an impressive range of skills for employability and active citizenship.

Every £1 we grant to young people is turned into £5 through their fundraising efforts.

For every 1 young person we support, a further 50 people within the wider community become directly involved.