Old School Youth Centre
At the old school youth centre we have a young peoples committee which meet once a month to plan implement and evaluate ideas from the members who use the youth centre, as well as work with other departments in the Council. They have planned Disco's, stay awakes, Barbeques and have an annual evening trip to Weston-super Mare. The Committee has recently been away on a residential to the Isle Of Wight, an activity weekend to bond together and become more affective as a team.
During August 2007 a group of three committee members visited a trade show in Windsor to examine play equipment for young people. After returning with information and working closely with Katherine Kearns, Open Spaces officer and the friends of Kingswood park, they have been able to choose equipment for young people in Kingswood park. This will be ongoing as the park changes and funding becomes available.
The committee has ten young people sitting on it, it has its own constitution and methods of electing young people to sit on the committee. Two members of the committee this year put their names forward for the U.K.Y.P voting and campaigned to become U.K.Y.P representatives.
Young people at the centre take part in questionnaires on a regular basis, and are able to input into a nightly programme planned at the start of each new term. For example young men had attended a dance workshop over the holidays and asked if they could have dance sessions at the centre. As a result we are now having a six week course of dance. Young people are also involved in the evaluation of the programme for the term as well as putting together the annual report for the youth centre.
South Gloucestershire Youth Forum
Anyone aged 11 – 25 can become a member of South Gloucestershire Youth Forum
Youth forum meetings are held every two weeks at Little Stoke Youth Centre. The forum also gets together outside of these meetings for particular projects and activities.
Further details of the Youth Forum are available on this website, please use the search at the top of this page and enter 'Youth Forum'.
UK Youth Parliament (UKYP)
The UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) was launched in 1999 and is an exciting opportunity for young people aged 11-18 to get involved in democracy and decision-making at national and local levels. The UKYP aims to give the young people of the UK between the ages of 11 and 18 a voice which will be heard and listened to by local and national government, providers of services for young people and other agencies which have an interest in the views and needs of young people. Over 400 young people across the country are currently involved.
UKYP members throughout the UK meet once a year in the summer for a five-day residential course and they debate issues and draw up a manifesto. The representatives then go back to their areas and work on parts of the manifesto. There are also regular meetings of the south-west region, when the UKYP members share information on their work and work on regional campaigns.
For further information on UKYP activities in South Gloucestershire, visit the UKYP homepage.
Children and Young People's Champion
Jamie-Leigh Smith was chosen following public nominations and an interview with the a panel of children and young people from South Gloucestershire.
Over the next year Jamie-Leigh will be visiting children and young peoples groups in South Gloucestershire to find out what’s important and what the main issues are. As Champion Jamie-Leigh has been invited to attend meetings with key decision-makers in the council to make sure these views are heard.
Jamie-Leigh will be Champion for 1 year and will work alongside children and young people to give and encourage adults to listen to their views.
For further information on the CYP Champion, visit the Youth Services homepage.