Exmoor Young Voices (EYV) is a voluntary group of young people from across Exmoor, seeking viable and sustainable ‘life’ and ‘work’ opportunities for young residents. We tackle many issues for young people on the moor, including housing, digital inclusion, employment, communications, travel and local wages.

We aim to engage with young people across Exmoor (covering parts of West Somerset and North Devon), listen to their issues, offer dedicated support from expert advisers and report their experiences to key policy decision-makers.

Ultimately, Exmoor Young Voices strives for positive action that prioritises young people’s needs. Our golden goal is to prevent young people from needing to leave Exmoor to start a life elsewhere.

In February 2019, we registered Exmoor Young Voices as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. This has significantly strengthened our position and enabled us to access further support and assistance. We continue to work closely with five local housing associations/charities: Caractacus Housing, Falcon Rural Housing, North Devon Homes, LiveWest, Magna, Exmoor National Park Authority, local councils, forums and other voluntary organisations who can impact the lives of young residents.

As far as we're aware, Exmoor Young Voices is the only organisation of its kind. We are keen to develop partnerships with other National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty to support them in setting up Young Voices representative groups. Together, with a collective, stronger voice, we will drive the critical changes young people in rural areas so desperately need.
​EYV Achievements so far:​
  • Winning The King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024
  • Set up a unique Self Build Project for young people on Exmoor, providing free advice and support for individuals and families interested in building their own homes on Exmoor
  • Supported the publication of 'How to Self Build your Dream Home for £99,000 - or less!' a game-changing self build manual by Justin Tyers
  • Established connections with a Community Interest Company able to provide self build loans and grants to young people
  • Identified with Exmoor National Park Authority, 23 potential self build sites
  • Delivered self build tours, seminars, Parliamentary, ITV, and BBC presentations
  • ​Identified a range of issues in research with Exmoor young people, including housing, digital communications, transport, environment, local incomes and rents, submitted in a full report to the National Park in 2015
  • Partnerships with every public authority, charity and foundation serving Exmoor, and funding from most
  • Advised on digital inclusion, coverage, costs and continuing limitations
  • Addressed every major authority, forum, consultative group, conference, farming and business network concerned with Exmoor, about the issues which young resident workers face in sustaining their part in Exmoor life
  • Placing the issues facing young adults onto their agendas: housing, rents, mortgages, finance, planning, sites, section 106, digital inclusion, travel costs, wages 
  • Delivered 2 Summits bringing together several of Exmoor’s young adults with Exmoor National Park Authority, local housing associations and all of the major authorities that administer Exmoor to discuss how we can make the moor a viable and sustainable place for young people to live and work
  • Consulted on the new Somerset Homefinder application form and website
  • Part of the Exmoor Rural Housing Network & its Task & Finish Group for Somerset Homefinder & Devon Home Choice
  • Housed 15 young locals who had otherwise been ruled out on misunderstood technicalities
  • Have 3 small cottages bequeathed to us via Caractacus Housing for young locals to rent in the future
  • Secured membership of the new Local Community Network for Exmoor
Trustees
William Lock, Chair
Joshua Smith
Teresa Williams
Justin Ruthven-Tyers
Marion Silverlock
Magdalena Harding
Ginny Saunders
Chris Wilmoth
Officers and Committee
William Lock, Chair
Magdalena Harding, Treasurer
Megan Hunt, Secretary & Coordinator
​Joshua Smith
Nick Hosegood
Sam Camp
Robyn Gummer
Becky Nelder
Ian Nelder
Johnathan Williams
Annabelle Gregory
Laura Harding
Malcom Harding
Mark Taylor
Advisers
​Leslie Silverlock, Funding Adviser
Steven Pugsley, Exmoor Adviser & County Councillor
Jan Ross, Charity Adviser
Ginny Saunders (Webbers) Exmoor Property Adviser
Charity Commission Reports
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 01.01.21 - 31.12.21
File Size: 322 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Trustees' Annual Report for the period 01.01.2020 - 31.12.2020
File Size: 315 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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© 2025 Exmoor Young Voices is a registered charity: 1182091

We are proud to have received The King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024.