We deliver a wide range of advice, information, outreach and support services for young people and youth organisations which aim to promote high quality exchanges and youth projects. Services include:

• An information, capacity building and outreach programme
• A grant making programme
• Resources and publications
• Special youth projects
• A Scottish development programme
• The Commonwealth Youth Forum
• New development initiatives

“We are indebted to CYEC – its ethos permeates and shapes our exchange. They offer a good deal of information, support, training and advice. They publicly gave their support early on – and we are delighted by our grant.”

An information, capacity building and outreach programme

We aim to provide a user-friendly and approachable service in order to build confidence and a supportive relationship with youth groups. Services include:

• Advice and Information to help young people, youth leaders and teachers learn about how to undertake a Commonwealth youth exchange project

• Individually tailored advice and support to help develop exchange projects via telephone, letter and face-to-face meetings with staff and regional representatives

• Facilitating the networking of youth exchange groups with each other to help develop a mutually supportive youth exchange community

• Training Programme, including an annual in-depth residential training course for youth exchange leaders and one-day training seminars and information workshops around the country

A grant making programme

We invite applications for youth exchange grants from youth and community organisations. CYEC’s grant aid criteria for part-funding Commonwealth youth exchange projects are outlined in our Guidelines for Funding leaflet.

Resources and publications

CYEC produces a wide range of publications and resources to support Youth Exchange projects, and to raise awareness of young people's action in the Commonwealth.

You can find a number of our publications available for download on this site.

Global youth work projects

CYEC are involved in a number of Global Youth Work projects - supporting young people to learn more about their relationships with local, national and international communities and issues.

You can find out more in our Global Youth Work section.

A Scottish development programme

Youth exchange activity in Scotland is supported by a Development Officer post which is part-funded by the Scottish Executive and various trusts, including the Lloyds TSB Foundation. This post provides an outreach and support programme, including training opportunities.

The Commonwealth Youth Forum

The Commonwealth Youth Forum takes place every two years - bringing together young people involved in national youth councils and youth fora from across the Commonwealth.

CYEC established the CYF in 1997 and actively supports each Commonwealth Youth Forum. We have published the reports created by young people at each of the recent Commonwealth Youth Fora.

You can find out more in the Young Commonwealth section of this site.

New development initiatives

CYEC are constantly looking to develop new projects to support young people to make a difference across the Commonwealth. In particular, we are working to engage young people more directly in the management of CYEC, and to support capacity building amongst National Youth Councils in Commonwealth countries.