Member Article

Young people have their say on services

A plan is being drawn up to ensure every young person in Darlington can help shape the services they use. The draft Plan For Young People’s Participation in Darlington sets out new ways to make sure young people’s views and ideas on a range of issues are listened to and acted upon. It is hoped that the plan drawn up by the Council’s Youth Service will give the young people a sense of responsibility, teach them valuable life skills and raise their self-esteem.The plan splits young people into three groups – the first is all young people aged 11 to 19 years who will be encouraged through schools, the website and youth workers to have their say on important issues. The second group is made up of young people who are members of school councils, youth forums and other organised groups. These groups join the newly-formed Youth Participation Network, and will be encouraged to listen to the views of young people and react to them.The third group will be known as the Youth Voice and Action Group. It will be made up of the Darlington Youth MP and Deputy as well as elected representatives from the Youth Participation Network. The Youth Voice and Action Group will have links with other regional and national youth organisations and will be able to directly feed into decisions that are made that affect young people.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .