“Find something that you care about and raise your voice about it. People should be listening to you.”
It is a simple message from Katharine Sacks-Jones, and one that reflects more than 20 years spent championing social justice and working alongside people facing inequality and disadvantage.
Now Chief Executive of the Young Women’s Trust, Katharine campaigns for greater equality and opportunity for young women. Her career has also included leading Agenda, the alliance for women and girls at risk, and Become, the national charity for children in care and young care leavers.
Her contribution to social justice, children’s rights, gender equality and the fight against poverty has been recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from Bucks.
Across her career, her focus has remained consistent: making sure people whose voices are too often overlooked have a meaningful say in the decisions that affect their lives.It is a message she believes is particularly important for young people today, as they navigate a rapidly changing world, from the climate crisis to the development of AI.
She advises those starting out to stay optimistic, believe in their potential and use their voices. “There will be hurdles and difficulties,” she says, “but I think holding on to your sense of optimism and believing in yourself and your potential and the potential of the people around you is crucial.”
For Katharine, using your voice is not simply about speaking up, it is also about being heard. She believes those with power and influence have a responsibility to listen to young people, whose experiences can bring perspectives that might otherwise be missed. “People with power need to make sure that they listen to young people. They often bring really unique and important perspectives and it's important their voices are heard.”
That belief has been central to Katharine’s own work. At Become, she helped expand the organisation’s reach and influence. Under her leadership, it was named Children’s Charity of the Year in 2024, while the Become the Movement network gave care-experienced young people a direct role in influencing decision-makers and policies that affect their lives.
Ask Katharine what she enjoys most about her work, and the answer isn't about policy or strategy, it’s people. “I really like people,” she says. “I like working with people, I like building teams and seeing what we can achieve together and the difference that we can make to people's lives.”
“I enjoy seeing the potential in people and when they overcome often really significant barriers and achieve amazing things, it's hugely amazing and inspiring to see.”
Perhaps the most fitting reflection of her work is the message she gives to the next generation.
“Recognise that you have huge power, you bring unique and important perspectives and people should be listening to you. Find something that you care about and raise your voice about it, even when things feel difficult.”
“People should be listening to you.”
