About Us
Although the United Kingdom has sadly left the European Union, our relationship with the EU remains important and so our work continues. We continue to maintain a connection with the EU, to make a case for the European project, and emphasise the UK’s role on the continent.
Part of our mission is also to work towards improving the EU. Whilst we believe Brexit was a tragic mistake, we feel it also reflects shortcomings of the European Union itself. We believe that EU leadership at the European Commission should be directly elected. We believe that the common market needs to be completed, and that the EU should better support its member states’ efforts to provide social protection. We believe that a united European voice is stronger in global affairs than any one European country’s voice can be.
In line with this, we carry out activism for campaigns that we believe in. We advocate for policies to make Europe stronger and more democratic. And we provide a community for like-minded individuals to meet each other and learn about new ideas and perspectives — and work together to create a better Europe.
Agree with us? Join us here!
Our organisation
Our parent organisations are the European Movement (EM) and JEF Europe. EM promotes the European project across the UK, and we operate as its youth section, open to all those aged under 35.
JEF is an umbrella group for similar movements across Europe: it has national sections in more than 30 countries across Europe, and we are its UK one.
Through JEF, we work closely with our European counterparts, organising exchanges and joint events, and our members have access to JEF’s countless events including seminars, campaign tours, trips, workshops, and other international projects.
Within the UK, we have a number of local branches, including university societies.
Meet The Team
The Board
The YEM UK Board is elected by our members annually, and oversees the administration of our organisation, co-ordinates campaigns, maintains partnerships with other organisations, and supports our branches.
If you’d like to stand for election to the Board, sign up for a membership here.
President – Julius Lajtha
president @ yem.org.uk
Julius has been a fighter for the European cause since the age of 15 on various fronts and with various organisations.
Austrian-born, with roots in Germany and Hungary and studying Politics, IR, and law in Aberdeen, he feels strongly European and wants to spread that feeling to many more young people in the country with YEM UK.
International Officer
Alexiane Terrochaire-Barbançon
international @ yem.org.uk
Alexiane originates from France and is studying European Affairs at the LSE. Also the President of YEM London, her top priority is to reconnect YEM to our European counterparts.
Alexiane loves cats, and is always up for a nice coffee session to discuss Europe or life in general!
Treasurer – Martin Penov
treasurer @ yem.org.uk
Martin is studying Politics and IR at the University of Manchester, where he has participated in numerous demonstrations and campaigns and taken an active part in the university’s numerous international communities.
Politically-minded from a young age, he is dedicated to preserving European values, both in his native Bulgaria and in a post-Brexit UK.
Policy Officer
Helena Robert I Campos
policy @ yem.org.uk
Helena is a young European passionate about social and environmental justice, committed to bottom-up-driven social change.
Recently graduated from her MSc in Gender, Development, and Globalisation from the London School of Economics (LSE), she has been engaged in civil society organisations at local and European levels. As YEM UK’s Civic Education & Policy Officer, she’s clear about the central role of empowered citizens in policy debates to collectively build our better future.
Branches Officer – Tessa Holmes
Tessa is passionate about languages and culture which is reflected in her prospective degree at the University of Edinburgh in French and Russian studies.
Through her work with the YEM, Tessa aims to reawaken young people to the boundless opportunities offered within Europe and emphasise the importance of remaining connected as young European citizens.
Communications Officer
Alexander Stennings
Alexander originates from the UK and is still lives in Kent. He studied at Postgraduate level -International Politics at the University of Kent.
A passionate European who joined the European movement not after the Brexit referendum and has got involved in YEM in order to continue to promote European ideals and values.
Our Team
The Board’s work is supported by other members of YEM UK – if you’d like to get involved, contact us at admin@yem.org.uk or fill in this form!
Youth Engagement Manager
Michael Anderson
Originating from the UK and born in Essex, Michael is based in London as our Youth Engagement Manager. He has a BA in History from University of Southampton and an MSc in Global Environmental Politics & Policy from Birkbeck College, University of London.
With years of experience working both in the sustainability sector and as a policy researcher for the grassroots organisation Labour for a Green New Deal, Michael is with us to fight for a stronger, and more democratic, Europe.
He has spent time living in Argentina and Australia, and is also an active musician, writer, community organiser and the Climate Crisis Editor for A News Education.
Communications Administrator
Scott Adam Piercy
YEM UK Team
Upcoming Events
Projects
Beyond 2022
The Beyond 2022 campaign aims to bring the discourse on the future of Europe to young people in the UK. Read more ⟶
Brexit Reality Portraits
Through video and audio interviews, Brexit Reality Portraits (BRP) aims to showcase the true impact of Brexit to people across the UK and the European Union. Read more ⟶
Europe At School
Europe At School is Europe´s largest civic education initiative with a focus on Europe. Together with JEF Europe we are bringing Europe into the classroom. If you want to help shape civic education policy and deliver this programme in education facilities, we’d love to hear from you.
Register your interest ⟶
