Youth CND badges

Youth CND badges reveal the story of young people in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), from the group’s origins to today, and are prized items for collectors.

Origins of Youth CND (YCND) 🧑‍🎓

Youth CND, known as YCND, emerged soon after the foundation of CND in 1958. The early marches to Aldermaston drew large numbers of students and young activists, many of whom wanted a structure of their own within the peace movement. Local youth branches were formed, often in schools and universities, and slogans such as 'Youth Against the Bomb' appeared on banners and badges. The energy and creativity of these younger members gave CND a distinctive youthful edge.

History through the decades 📜

During the 1960s YCND branches were active across the country, organising demonstrations, teach-ins, and student debates. Their prominence was most visible on the Aldermaston marches where youth contingents carried their own banners. In the 1970s the movement waned but revived strongly in the early 1980s amid renewed Cold War tensions. YCND and student groups became central to anti-nuclear activism at this time, often connecting with punk and radical youth culture. By the 1990s the structure evolved into Youth & Student CND (YSCND), which continues today as the section of CND for under-25s and students.

Present activities of Youth & Student CND 🌍

Today’s Youth & Student CND campaigns on issues such as the UK’s Trident nuclear system, climate justice, and solidarity with global disarmament movements. It organises national conferences, freshers’ fair stalls, and youth contingents at marches. Social media has become a central tool, but the group still values visual symbols like badges as ways of sparking conversations and giving identity to young members.

Badges as identity and activism 🎨

From the start, badges were vital for youth members. Eric Austen’s original clay brooches in 1958 were soon followed by mass-produced tin and celluloid buttons. Youth versions carried inscriptions such as “Youth CND” or “Youth Against the Bomb,” marking them out from the standard designs. In the 1970s and 1980s, badges reflected wider youth culture, with variations in colour, typography and humour. Modern enamel pins produced by Youth & Student CND continue this tradition, offering recruits a physical marker of membership and solidarity.

Collectors' guide 🔍

☮️ Organisation: Youth & Student CND (YCND / YSCND)

🕰️ Age: 1958–present (most collectible: 1958–1980s)

💎 Rarity: Moderate; early clay brooches and 1960s tin/celluloid buttons are scarce

⚙️ Material: Clay, tin, celluloid, enamel

📏 Size: 25–40 mm

🎨 Variations: Various — early clay, tin/celluloid buttons, enamel reissues, punk/retro designs

💰 Price Guide: £20 - £50 is typical; rare early brooches can fetch £75+

📌 Top Tip: Look for youth-specific wording, original backing cards, and provenance linked to Aldermaston marches or youth events for highest collectability.

Badges connected to YCND are highly collectable, especially when they differ from the mainstream designs. The earliest examples are the rare clay brooches from 1958, though very few were marked as youth issues. More commonly, collectors look for small celluloid-over-tin buttons from the 1960s and 1970s, which often included specific youth wording. These are scarcer than general CND badges as they were produced in smaller runs for youth branches.

Badges from the 1980s are easier to find but can be highly distinctive, with punk-influenced designs or references to student activism. Many of these were sold cheaply at gigs, university meetings and marches, so condition today varies greatly. Later reissues in the 1990s and 2000s were made in enamel, which survives well and is less fragile than celluloid.

When collecting, look for details such as size, type of pin fixing, and maker’s mark. Provenance adds considerable value, especially if a badge can be linked to a particular event like an Aldermaston march or a youth conference. As with other political badges, mint examples or those still with original backing cards are especially prized. A rounded collection would include one early youth-labelled tin badge, an Aldermaston-linked youth design, an example from the 1980s revival, and a modern enamel pin from Youth & Student CND to show the continuity of youth activism across the decades.