Last meeting of the year!

This afternoon we also conducted the last youth cabinet meeting of the term. This mainly consisted of reviewing the Youth Service satisfaction survey and putting together a final draft.  Over the past couple of weeks we have been visiting youth provisions to ask young people their opinions on the survey design and proposed questions.  Today we were able to take these suggestions on board and make the final changes.

During the meeting we were also able to update everyone on the individual work we have been involved in such as the Youth Mayor's visit to Elfed Avenue youth club and the Emoji's Presentation evening.  We also gave our Secret Santa gifts.

Merry Christmas from the Youth Cabinet!

Young People's Participation - Having a Voice

Today, we began our ACU coursework on Young People's Participation - Having a Voice.  This involved group discussions on how we have contributed our views to consultations around issues that are relevant to us.  We looked at the different methods of collecting young people's views; the barriers that prevent people from collecting young people's views and how to overcome them.

This was a really jam packed session but we covered topics that are also important to us as Youth Cabinet members.  This coursework will also link into the Youth Service Satisfaction survey we have been working on lately.  We will continue to work on this ACU in the New Year.  

Congratulations Emojis!

I was honoured to attend the Emoji's presentation evening on behalf of the Vale Mayor on Thursday 15th December at the YMCA Hub, Barry.  It was amazing to meet the young people who have been involved in the project and have completed a 10-week course focusing on improving their confidence and self-esteem.

The Director of Learning and Skills and the Head of the Youth Service were also at the event and we all got to present young people with their certificates and watched a video showcasing the work they've been involved in.  We then enjoyed a lovely buffet and I got to play some pool and table tennis with the young people and their families.

Congratulations everyone!

Thank you Elfed Avenue Youth Club

Tonight we visited Elfed Avenue youth club in Penarth to meet the young people  after they invited the Youth Mayor and Deputy following the election.  It was great to meet the young people, to find out what they love about attending youth club and what they get out of it.

They also helped us by taking reviewing our questions for the Youth Service Satisfaction Survey. We were able to run our draft survey past them and ask them for their suggestions on how to make it better. Thanks everyone!

November's meeting

This week we held our November monthly meeting and we have a few things to report. Following discussions at the Vale Youth Forum, members concerns about long lunchtime queues have been raised with professionals who are looking into carrying out some research into the issue and the impact it has on students.

Also, we've had a great idea to have some training in British Parliamentary style debating and can't wait to suggest it to the Vale Youth Forum.  Hopefully we will then be able to hold a debate on a chosen topic and invite some decision-makers to listen to our ideas.

The Trans*Form Cymru Charter was also discussed again and we are grateful to have a case study of a young person from the Vale which supports the need for a local LGBTQ guidance document for schools and organisations working with young people.

Also, please see below the new Youth Mayor poster for 2016-17, copies will be coming to schools, youth clubs and youth organisations soon!

      

The results are in!

So 2016 was the second year young people involved in participation projects in the Vale took part in the Make Your Mark campaign.  The Make Your Mark campaign is run by the British Youth Council across the UK and the results are used to find out the top issues for young people which are later debated and voted on at UK Youth Parliament.

This year in the Vale we collected 4136 Make Your Mark ballots and the Vale was the top performing Local Authority in Wales - woop woop! This could not have been achieved without the hard work of members of Penarth Youth Action, Barry Youth Action, Llantwit Youth Council and the Vale Youth Forum whilst encouraging young people to take part in the ballot not to mention the support from Barry Comp, Bryn Hafren and Cowbridge Comp!   

So what did young people vote for and what are the top issues for young people in the Vale?   

• A curriculum to prepare us for life - 804
• Votes at 16 - 560
• Transport - 508 
• First aid education for all - 469 
• Stop cuts that affect the NHS - 448
• Mental Health - 440
• Tackling racism and religious discrimination - 429
• Body Image - 171
• Raising Awareness of Sexual Harassment in schools - 164
• Fund our youth services, don't cut them - 143    

Armistice Day

On Friday 11th November, as Deputy Youth Mayor I attended the Vale of Glamorgan Armistice Day ceremony to commemorate the fallen and in support of the Royal British Legion.  It was an honour to represent the Youth Cabinet and lay a wreath on behalf of young people.  The ceremony took place at the Civic Offices in Barry in front of the Merchant Seaman Memorial where there was a short service, a two-minute silence and a wreath laying ceremony.