Challenging traditional narratives on youth engagement, this book examines how democracy can be reimagined as grassroots engagement with local policy makers between elections.

The book explores a unique blend of under-researched themes including the everyday politics of young people, the interface between civic authorities and young citizens in policy making and the promise of urban democracy. Offering a rare policy-based and youth-centred approach to young people and democratic participation, this book recasts the existing democratic deficit as a failure in public policy and calls for researchers and policy makers to focus on how to amplify young people’s voices in a more inclusive and meaningful way, to turn youth voice into sustainable public policy. The civic mentoring model developed with young Londoners offers practical steps for making this happen.