The National Youth Agency - Youth Work Week – Promoting the Voice and Influence of Young People

Youth Work Week – Promoting the Voice and Influence of Young People

31 Oct 2008
Youth Work Week, which starts tomorrow and runs to 7 November, will see local events all around the country helping to promote the voice and influence of young people. From a borough-wide Positive Images campaign in Halton tackling stereotypes of young people to an awards ceremony in Hartlepool and a youth art exhibition in Bury St Edmunds, thousands of young people will be involved.

PRESS RELEASE – For immediate release

31 October 2008

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This year Youth Work Week culminates on 7 November in Takeover Day, an event run by 11 Million, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. On Takeover Day public services, private companies and voluntary groups open themselves up to young people’s influence in ways ranging from shadowing of senior executives to handing over real decision-making power.

Welcoming the week Fiona Blacke, Chief Executive of The National Youth Agency, said: “This year’s theme of ‘Promoting the voice and influence of young people’ is one of the areas in which youth work has led the way in public services. Youth work has consistently helped provide a platform for young people and worked to help them develop the skills and confidence to express themselves. Crucially, youth workers have also influenced other organisations – not least government – to become more receptive to the influence of young people.”

“These then are some of the areas that we hope to see both celebrated and developed further in Youth Work Week. What happens is of course up to local organisers and the young people they work with.

“We are delighted that this year 11 Million has decided to move its Takeover Day to form a natural climax to the week on 7 November. The Children’s Commissioner for England shares with us the desire to ensure that young people have a voice and that they should be actively involved in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.

“Whatever you do, we wish you well and thank you for your efforts in promoting young people’s voice and influence.”

For more information, including an information pack, visit The National Youth Agency website at http://www.nya.org.uk/youthworkweek/ or visit the blog of Youth Work Week news at http://blogs.nya.org.uk/yww2008

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Notes to news editors:

1. Youth Work Week has been held annually since 1993 to highlight the contribution played by youth work and youth workers to the development of young people and to focus public attention on the positive roles played by young people in their communities.

2. The National Youth Agency works in partnership with young people and with organisations and services to ensure better outcomes for young people. It is an independent, development organisation located between government and funding bodies on the one hand and service providers and their users on the other. See http://www.nya.org.uk/ for more information.

Further information:

Tel: 0116 242 7483. E-mail Tim Burke or Andy Hopkinson. Tel: 0116 242 7480. E-mail