Young people are being encouraged to make their voices heard at North Yorkshire’s 2018 Youth Voice Conference next month.
Hosted by North Yorkshire County Council, the event will offer young people the opportunity to meet and learn how they can influence decision-makers from the police, education services, local authorities and other organisations. The conference is aimed at secondary schools, youth councils and youth groups.
Attendees will be able to take part in workshops and activities and meet young people from other school councils and youth councils, as well as visit a marketplace of organisations offering support and opportunities. The market place will host organisations like the Barnardo’s Positive Identities Service, Compass Reach and the North Yorkshire Youth Service.
Guest speakers will include writer and poet Lemn Sissay MBE, the inspirational, funny and thought-provoking author of several books of poetry. Lemn has also written plays and created records and public art and was the official poet of the London Olympics. He received his MBE for services to literature.
County Councillor Janet Sanderson, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said: “The conference will be an opportunity for young people to share ideas and concerns. It will bring them together to celebrate and build on the Voice, Influence and Participation work being done by the County Council across North Yorkshire.
“Some of this work takes place in schools and some in wider groups, such as the Young People’s Council and the North Yorkshire Youth Executive, which unites representatives of various groups such as youth councils, school councils, LGBT groups, young carers and looked-after children to work on projects about issues that concern young people and to take those issues to decision-makers.”
The conference is free and takes place on Friday, 16 March, at Pavilions of Harrogate, but tickets must be booked in advance. For more information or to book tickets, contact the Voice, Influence and Participation team at VIP@northyorks.gov.uk.