The National Youth Agency - In The Know, Issue 5

In The Know, Issue 5 - September 2007

TELL THE GOVERNMENT WHAT YOU THINK

The government is asking anyone with an interest in making things better for children, young people and families what they think needs to be done to achieve it. The responses will help the government to work out what more that it can do for children, families and young people. This is your chance to challenge them and to make sure your views are taken into account. Find out more>>

Also of interest...

The government also wants to know how to make life safer for children and young people. It wants to hear how safe young people feel, and what the government can do to improve the situation. Deadline to respond is 31 October 2007. Find out more>>

HAVE YOUR SAY

The Rural Youth Network wants to hear from young people. If you or your organisation would be interested in helping to gather views on topics such as transport, affordable housing, and places to go and things to do, please register your interest by emailing ruralyouth@nya.org.uk

CAFCASS, an organisation that helps children and their families when parents are splitting up, is looking for young people to join their North of England forum. If you are aged 14 to 21, have experience of family breakdown or have been cared for by relatives or local authorities then please email Katrina.durrans@cafcass.gov.uk . The deadline to get involved is 8 October 2007.

The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), the organisation that works to improve the skills of those working with children and young people is looking for young people to get involved in its work, help decide what projects to fund, and help create a website for young people. Find out more>>

RUCKUS, The NYA’s free online magazine for young people, has now been available for over a year and we want to find out what you think about it. Complete the survey here>>

Get involved and start voting in the Love Libraries Awards, which celebrate the great work libraries are doing to encourage more young people to visit them. There are five finalists battling it out and it’s up to you to decide who wins! The library service with the most votes will receive £2,000 to improve its services for young people in the community. Voting will close at 3pm on Friday 14 September. Vote here>>

YOUNG RESEARCHERS

The NYA is launching the Young Researcher Network, to encourage and support young people to take part in research. We want to work with up to 15 organisations which work directly with young people (aged 11-25) and have an interest in developing young people-led research. More information>>

YOUTH WORK WEEK

Youth Work Week, a week designed to encourage activities for young people and youth workers, will be 1-7 November 2007. T his year’s theme is All Different All Equal, the European campaign promoting diversity, human rights and participation of young people. An information pack is available for download at: www.nya.org.uk/youthworkweek

11 MILLION

11 MILLION, an organisation led by the Children’s Commissioner for England, will spend half its project budget next year tackling violence, abuse and bullying of children after young people identified these issues as the most important ones facing them today. More information>>

AIMING HIGH

The government published its ten-year strategy for young people in July. Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities sets out a strategy to improve leisure-time opportunities, activities and support services for young people in England. The strategy outlines how the government will:

Use money obtained from unused bank accounts to fund new youth centres, refurbish existing ones and provide mobile units.
Extend the Youth Opportunity Fund and Youth Capital Fund until at least 2011 – with extra resources for young people in the most deprived areas.
Ensure that by 2010, 30 per cent of places for young people to go are to be run/managed by young people.
Set up a National Institute of Youth leadership to ‘support young people’s ability to bring about social change’.
Consider whether to introduce a ‘Youth Week’ to promote positive images of young people.

View a detailed summary outlining all the proposals >>

GET INVOLVED IN THE NYA

The NYA is reviewing its ways of involving young people in governance - how young people take an effective part in steering and leading the organisation. This was one of the top ten priorities agreed with young people at our annual Practise What We Preach event last February. We have looked at different models and think the best model would be that:

The NYA holds an annual springtime Practise What We Preach event of 30-40 young people from across the country with direct links with and interest in The NYA.
Every other year, the young people elect a minimum of two young people to be nominated as full Trustees to the Board. These young people may be between 16 and 20 at the time of election.
Every other year, young people elect two shadow Board members (under 18) who may or may not go on to stand for election as Trustees the following year. This allows for gradual gaining of confidence and understanding about the role and responsibilities of being a Trustee.
The NYA will develop with young people good support arrangements to make sure young people are properly included as Trustees.

So – two questions: what do you think? And if you are interested, would you like to take part in a short piece of work to explore these ideas in more detail? Contact Bill Badham. Responses by Friday 12 October.