Council promotes youth activities and involvement (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Council promotes youth activities and involvement

January 18, 2008 10:35 AM

The Council will be promoting the range of facilities and clubs available to young people in York in the next round of the Your Ward newsletter, to be distributed this month across the City. There will be information for young people and families, in every ward, telling them what is happening in their local areas.

The promotion is twined with the new YorOK website for young people- which can be found at www.yor-ok.org.uk. Anything from sports and leisure facilities, careers guidance, libraries and youth clubs, to the Connexions service, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and voluntary projects will be advertised in Your Ward and the website.

Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Youth and Social Inclusion, Cllr Keith Aspden, is Vice-Chair of the Young People's Working Group. He said, "There is a huge range of things going on at the moment for young people in York, and the Liberal Democrats are intent on increasing involvement and participation. It is important that we let young people, and their families, know about the great range of activities and services available to them in their local areas and across the City."

Members of the Young People's Working Group met on 17th January to discuss the initiatives to promote the involvement and participation for young people in York.

A number of schemes were reported, including: -

· A Children and Young People's Champion, elected by children and young people, to represent them people at the Council. This position will be re-elected during February.

· York Council developing a strategy to engage children and young people in their local wards, and allow them to raise issues and get involved in neighbourhood planning.

· A conference for school councils from primary schools, at which children shared information about their vision for York, and the effectiveness of their school council. Another conference is planned for February - this time for secondary schools.

· The launch of the Yor-OK website in November for children, young people, parents and practitioners to find out information on activities for young people in York.

· The Takeover Day in November, which celebrated children and young people making a positive contribution to their communities, and gave them the opportunity to get involved in various roles.

· The continuation of the 'YorKash' panel - a panel of young people entirely responsible for the decisions made on funding projects for young people.

Councillor Aspden added, "It is very important that the voice of young people is heard at the Council, such as with school councils and the YorKash panel, and I looking forward to seeing the range of involvement and participation opportunities continue."