Key charities and NGOs have used the ePolitix Forum to welcome a Conservative plan to use email to consult with young people on policy issues.

Forum Response: CARE

Adam Atkinson, director of communications at CARE, told ePolitix.com: "As a national charity working with lots of young people, CARE believes this is a very good idea.

"It is good to see a political party embracing modern technology and taking an interest in young people's views.

"However, it is important to take the results with a pinch of salt. Online polling is not an exact science when compared to face to face and telephone opinion sampling.

"Having said this, Charles Hendry, the party's spokesman on young people and who is responsible for the initiative, should be commended. He is clearly a politician in touch with young people and modern politics."

Forum Response: The Children's Society

A spokeswoman for The Children's Society told ePolitix.com: "One of the key targets for the Children's Society is to involve children at every level of our organisation. We are bringing young people into the decision making process of policy, projects, fundraising and programmes.

"Politicians are finding it critical to engage young people in politics. They are taking a step forward by listening to what youth organisations say about political policies and decisions that affect young people. We believe it is vital to develop fuller participation from the under 21s."

Forum Response: Centrepoint

A spokeswoman for Centrepoint told ePolitix.com: "Centrepoint welcomes the Conservative Party's new initiative to gauge the opinions of young people via monthly email questionnaires. However, it is vital that the opinions of harder to reach groups such as the homeless young people that Centrepoint works with are also actively sought and that tangible changes in youth policy are brought about through their direct participation."

Forum Response: National Council of YMCAs England

A spokesman for the National Council of YMCAs England told ePolitix.com: "The YMCA welcomes the new initiative by the Conservative Party recognising the important role of young people in political and decision making processes. It is essential however that any engagement is meaningful and translates into real outcomes.

"The YMCA believes that moves to consult with youth organisations through the proposed email questionnaires are a positive step, however it is essential that young people themselves are also given the opportunity to put forward their views. Not all young people have access to email, in particular disadvantaged groups. It is important that any engagement is with all young people and not just those who are well placed to contribute.

"Young people should also be involved in shaping and identifying the policies and issues to be discussed - there is a real risk of making assumptions about the kinds of issues that young people "want" to talk about.

"Young people are genuinely interested in decisions that affect them, their communities and their future. There are many issues that they want to discuss, and they want to be listened to. It is essential that politicians develop the substance and content of politics in a way that makes it accessible and understandable to young people, which, also shows that decisions are being acted upon.

"The YMCA is committed to helping young people make their voices heard through its Access All Areas programme. Access All Areas provides a variety of opportunities for young people from YMCAs to express their views to politicians and decision-makers. This autumn Access All Areas will be going to all Party Conferences. We were delighted that the Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith was able to see Access All Areas in action at the recent LGA Conference. We look forward to discussing this move by the Conservatives further in Bournemouth."

Forum Response: BNTL

A spokeswoman for the British National Temperance League told ePolitix.com: "BNTL welcomes any initiative that will listen and hopefully take note and act upon views of the organisations and individuals who work with children and young people. Carefully assessing the needs and desires of all with an unbiased view so that children, young people and the communities they live, work and play in are safer environments."