We held our annual Youth Voice Saturday last weekend, an event that brings together young people and key decision makers to discuss the issues that matter most to them.
Earlier this year, over 7000 young people took part in the Make Your Mark ballot and voted ‘Places to Go, Things to Do’ as the number one issue for young people in Devon. Since then we’ve launched out Places to Go, Things to Do Grant Fund, while members of the Devon Youth Council have been hard at work further researching the topic and establishing what young people would like to see happen in Devon.
And so it was that on Saturday 22 November, the Devon Youth Council – along with guests from Space Youth Services, Barnstaple Town Youth Council, and Sidmouth College School Council – presented their research, personal experiences, and positive examples of successful community initiatives to over 40 local councillors and other decision makers.
As a result of the day, the Devon Youth Council hopes to launch four new co-production groups on:
- Promoting a culture of inclusion in Devon which includes safe spaces for young people.
- Exploring what we might be able to do with transport costs for young people.
- Creating a web-based directory of all activities for young people in Devon.
- And working with Space Youth Services to consider an offer for 18- to 25-year-olds
Councillors in attendance have said that they were hugely impressed with all the young people there, and have indicated that they will be giving extra consideration as to how they can further engage young people in their local areas.
It was such a successful day, where so many young people spoke bravely about their personal experiences and expressed young people’s need for change and communication! Huge well done and thank you to everyone who got involved!