Youth Opinions Unite
Here in Walsall, we have an innovative programme of consulting with young people through our youth involvement and youth engagement programme called Youth Opinions Unite (YOU). Part of Walsall Youth Service.
YOU are groups of young people from across Walsall who meet at a district and borough wide level to help influence key decision-making and policy issues involving young people. It also acts as a consultative body.
Youth Opinions Unite is part of Walsall Youth Service and is supported by many organisations including Walsall Borough Strategic Partnership, Black Country Connexions' local management committee, Children and Young Persons Strategic Partnership, Community Empowerment Network and Local Neighbourhood Partnerships. The process also feeds into the Black Country Connexions Youth Forum and UK Youth Parliament.
Through YOU, people have found employment as Youth Support Workers, young people have been trained to work with other youngsters whilst others have received training and developed new skills.
The main way you can get involved is putting yourself forward to become a member of one of the district groups.
District groups
The YOU process operates within six districts of Walsall: Willenhall, Darlaston, Aldridge South & Streetly, Aldridge North & Brownhills, Bloxwich, and Walsall Central.
The groups exist for young people to raise issues and concerns affecting them locally. You can become a member of the groups by either being an official representative of your school or youth club or by simply representing your own individual issues. Each group decides which issues they want to taken further to the borough wide group.
The purpose of the district meetings is to enable the young people of Walsall to meet together to discuss issues that are important to you in your own areas and to discuss ways in which they can be addressed or resolved.
District groups are also there to enable you to meet new people from other youth clubs/schools in your own area and share experiences, giving you an insight into other people's concerns.
The district groups provide clear communicative feedback both up and down through the structure. Down to the youth clubs, schools and youth councils and in turn, feeding district issues up to the borough wide and steering groups.
They are led and comprise of young people only. The structure and agenda are decided by you and any action that is taken has got to be agreed by the majority of the forum.
Boroughwide YOU Group
The district groups feed into the borough wide group. It is made up of young people from each area to discuss issues raised at district level and also issues fed down from the steering group.
It will take action on issues raised at district meetings and refer them to the steering group if necessary. It will also do the reverse, sending information to the district groups.
It is run by young people, without adult interference, but with external support from the Y.O.U Team. This means adults are not at meetings unless specifically invited.
The group is responsible for implementing the priorities of young people. It also carries responsibilities for contacting young people not involved in any structured bodies, organising consultation exercises on a regular basis, and annual borough wide consultation events.
The Steering Group
The steering group is made up of people elected from the borough wide group and professionals working within Walsall for groups such as Walsall Borough Strategic Partnership, who meet every month.
Its purpose is to ensure young people's views are reflected in community matters. Priorities are discussed and decided upon. Agenda items are discussed by both adults and young people, but only young people have voting rights. Elected positions such as the chair and vice chair can only be filled by young people.
YOU young poeple are currently involved in a wide range of projects across the Borough. Projects include bullying awareness, media, drama, consultations, re-launch and planning of Borough wide group, developing district groups and much more.
Look out for posters in schools and clubs promoting the 2007 United Kingdom Youth Parliament (UKYP). If your aged between 11 - 18 and live in Walsall you can stand as a candidate to become a Member of Youth Parliament (MYP) to represent young people in Walsall. If you want to voice your opinions and influence change within local government then this is for you!
Application forms will be available from the YOU team or available online from mid November. Closing date for applications will be 11th December 2006. Voting will take place 29th January to 9th February 2007. The 'Big Announcement' will planned for Feb half term.
If you would like to find out more about YOU meetings, projects, events or the forthcoming elections contact a member of the YOU team on 01922 643600 or 01922 650402/650401 or email youthopinionsunite@yahoo.co.uk or check out the website www.youthopinionsunite.co.uk