Almost eight in ten young people in the UK say they feel unprepared for active citizenship (British Council, Next Generation UK 2024). Against this backdrop, the Attorney General’s Office and Cumberland Lodge have today launched a new Magna Carta Facilitation Guide – a free resource to help teachers and youth workers bring the principles of the Rule of Law to life with young people.
Developed with academic input, the guide is aimed primarily at 16–18-year-olds, but its flexible, modular design means it can also be adapted for younger groups, older students, or university settings.
Drawing directly on ideas generated at a June 2025 workshop with 50 students from schools, universities, and youth organisations, the guide features discussion prompts, creative activities, and group exercises on issues ranging from digital rights and artificial intelligence to transparency in government and equality. It can be delivered in a full day or broken into shorter sessions, requiring only simple classroom materials.
The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC said:
“The Magna Carta established the principles that continue to underpin our society to this day. This guide is an essential resource, helping young people understand how concepts like due process and access to justice remain as relevant today as they were eight centuries ago.
I would like to thank Cumberland Lodge for developing this practical tool that will enable teachers and youth workers to engage students with the rule of law in an accessible way. When young people understand these legal foundations and how they apply to their daily lives, we strengthen our society and ensure future generations appreciate the privilege and responsibility of living under the rule of law.”
Professor Melissa Butcher, Programme Director at Cumberland Lodge, added:
“Young people told us they want stronger commitments to equality, transparency, and democracy education. Their voices are at the heart of this guide, and we hope it will inspire many more to join these conversations.’’
A national programme of events has taken place this year to mark the 800th anniversary of the final sealing of Magna Carta in 1225.
The Magna Carta Facilitation Guide is free to download at Magna Carta Facilitation Guide on www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk. Schools, colleges, and youth organisations are invited to use it and share their experiences on social media using #MagnaCarta2025.
Notes for Editors
- The guide was developed by Cumberland Lodge with support from the Attorney General’s Office and academic consultant Dr John Stanton (City, University of London).
- Data on youth civic preparedness is drawn from the British Council’s Next Generation UK 2024 report, which found that 78% of young people feel unprepared for active citizenship. Full report available here: https://www.britishcouncil.org/research-insight/next-generation-uk-2024
- For further information, images, or interviews, please contact Goodness Bayagbon, Communications & Engagement Officer at Cumberland Lodge, at: Gbayagbon@cumberlandlodge.ac.uk