Youth Focus South West use our knowledge and connections to local youth organisations and our strong links with national youth organisations and policy makers in government departments to enable voices from the South West to be heard as policy and initiatives are developed. Through the Network of Regional Youth Work Units; England we have a voice for the region on national bodies. We have regular calls and meetings with national organisations and civil servants and politicians and regularly comment on strategic developments before publication. This is a valuable resource for the region that relies on maintaining strong links with our local youth work sector.