The National Youth Agency - CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKEOVER AGAIN

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKEOVER AGAIN

30 May 2008
The National Youth Agency and 11 MILLION are delighted to announce the date for the second 11 MILLION Takeover Day.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children's Commissioner for England calls on decision makers in government, local authorities, businesses, charities, schools and the media to invite children and young people to takeover their organisations for one day.

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The second 11 MILLION Takeover Day will be held on the 7 November 2008 to coincide with the climax of the National Youth Agency's Youth Work Week 2008.

The first 11 MILLION Takeover Day which took place on the 23rd November 2007 was a huge success with more than 400 organisations and individuals from all over the country, including, politicians, newspapers, local authorities, police forces and fire brigades taking part. In total over 10,000 children got the opportunity to work alongside decision makers, and have their say.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green Children's Commissioner for England said:
"I am delighted to be able to announce the date for the second ever 11 MILLION Takeover Day, it will provide a fitting climax to Youth Work Week. This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity for organisations and individuals to show that they value and respect children and young people by letting them takeover for the day. Children and young people have the right to have a say about decisions which affect their lives.”

“The second 11 MILLION Takeover Day will be a great chance for those organisations who already involve children and young people to showcase their work or act as starting point for those who do not. It will also be a wonderful chance for those who were involved last year to build on the inspiring work that took place on the first 11 MILLION Takeover Day.”

Fiona Blacke, Chief Executive of The NYA, said:

“Youth Work Week 2008 has the theme of Promoting the Voice and Influence of Young People – so it is great news that 11 MILLION and ourselves are aligning our efforts and putting the focus on giving young people the chance to have their say and to make a difference. Takeover Day got off to a great start last year – we hope this year it will benefit from the momentum provided by a week of activities and cap that week with a burst of highly effective activity.”

--ENDS--

Notes to Editors:

11 MILLION, formerly the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, supports the 11 million children and young people in England to have their voices heard. The Children’s Commissioner for England was established under The Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice of children and young people and to champion their interests and bring their concerns and views to the national arena.
Professor Sir Al Aynsley-Green became the Children’s Commissioner for England on 1 July 2005. He was previously National Clinical Director for Children at the Department of Health and Nuffield Professor of Child Health at the Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
Please check http://www.11million.org.uk/ to find out more about the work of 11 MILLION
The NYA supports those involved in young people’s personal and social development and works to enable all young people to fulfil their potential as individuals and citizens within a socially just society. Website: http://www.nya.org.uk/
Youth Work Week takes place each year from 1-7 November and supports a focused period of themed activities for youth workers, while also raising the profile of the youth service as a whole. For further information visit www.nya.org.uk/youthworkweek

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