Neurodiversity and disability in education, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and migration are among the topics on the agenda today at the 2025 Overseas Territories Youth Summit at BVI House in London.
Organised by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association, the annual event is designed to offer a platform for young voices from across the UK OTs.
This year, it will be hosted by the BVI London Office and chaired by Malia Choucoutou, the youth representative from the Virgin Islands.
“We are pleased that the BVI has been selected to host and chair this important summit,” said Tracy Bradshaw, the UK representative to the VI government and current chair of UKOTA. “As the BVI currently holds the presidency of UKOTA, we are delighted to provide a vibrant platform for youth from across the territories to come together, exchange ideas and work towards a more inclusive future.”
Each inhabited OT will be represented by two youth participants and a youth parliament representative, who will all take part in activities including plenary sessions and networking events, according to the London Office.
The annual summit was launched in 2023 to foster collaboration among youths in the OTs.
UK Youth Parliament
The summit will be followed by the UK Youth Parliament Sitting tomorrow, which will include a special segment where representatives from each UK OT will speak on the theme “Education and learning: school/college and access to university and apprenticeships.”
This theme was chosen through the inaugural “Make Your Mark” ballot during UK Parliament Week last December.
The ballot drew votes from more than 2,900 youths aged 11-18 from across the UK OTs, according to the London Office.
Of those, 661, or 22 percent, voted for the theme.
VI representative Adrianne Thomas will be among the OT youths who will speak at the event tomorrow.
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