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‘Children have the right to say what they think should happen, when adults are making decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account’. Article 12 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.
We think it is very important that young people have the right to say what they think and are listened to, that’s why we are Lancashire Youth Councillors.
What is Lancashire Youth Council? diagram ^
We are a group of ordinary young people, aged 11 to 18, from all over Lancashire who are elected by other young people to help get your voice heard by adults who make decisions. Some things important to young people in Lancashire are, cheaper bus fares, better sex education in schools, recycling centres, schools and youth centres, and getting more things for young people to do, like skateboard parks, and youth centres.
Some of us are also elected to the United Kingdom Youth Parliament to represent young people in the North West and nationally. It means that we can get young people’s voices heard by everyone, including the Prime Minister!
We all are members of our District Youth Councils, and we meet regularly to decide what we want adults to listen to us about. Some of us are on our School Councils too.
What is a District Youth Council?
There are 12 of them - one in every district. Anyone can join their District Youth Council, or come to an event or activity that we organise. We have regular meetings about what we want to happen our own areas, but it’s not all about talking – we do lots of things like art, drama, outdoor activities and going on overnight residentials.
Citizenship
Everyone now has citizenship lessons at school. Understanding citizenship is partly about understanding how and why adults, including governments, make decisions, and how ordinary people can take part in making those decisions. Adults can vote for others to represent them as their local Councillors and their local MP. It’s easier to understand how this works if you know about young people’s Councils.
School Councils
Why not find out about your School Council (if there isn’t one already, there may be one starting soon) and which young people have been voted onto it? School Councils or forums are where young people can represent others about things that they want to change or they are concerned about in their school, for example what colour the school toilets should be!
School Councils can talk to their District Youth Council about things that
are bigger than just your school, for example needing more local buses.
Look out for our new website which we are designing now, and find out more by
ringing your local Youth Participation Worker. They are youth workers, who help
us to do all these things. To get their contact number ring,
Carol Newmarch 01772 532834
Emma McGurrin 01772 532836
Or
The line (freephone) 0800 511111
Lancashire Youth Council also has a website:
www.lancashireyouthcouncil.info
every district youth Council has a direct website address:
www.lancasteryouthCouncil.info
www.wyreyouthCouncil.info
www.ribblevalleyyouthCouncil.info
www.pendleyouthCouncil.info
www.burnleyyouthCouncil.info
www.chorleyyouthCouncil.info
www.westlancashireyouthCouncil.info
www.rossendaleyouthCouncil.info
www.prestonyouthCouncil.info
www.fyldeyouthCouncil.info
www.southribbleyouthCouncil.info
www.hyndburnyouthCouncil.info
