Fri 10th
December 2010 Watch the YCAA NW
Presentation Film with the Chancellor! The highlights film from the Young Citizens' Action Agenda
NW Presentation Event to George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the
Exchequer, is now available on YouTube. Please view the video below:
Fri 24th
October 2010 NW Action Agenda
presented to the Chancellor! Young people (14-19 years old) from across the North West
met the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP at Rudheath
Youth Centre, Cheshire, on 24th September to present him with their
Action Agenda for the North West. The report represents the
views of over 12,000 young citizens from across the NW
region. At a time of economic uncertainty, the
Action Agenda calls for more positive images of teenagers and
challenges the Government to support young people in achieving their
ambitions to build a better future.
The main finding and recommendations of the
Action Agenda include:
Only eighteen per cent (18%) of NW young people feel they
can influence politics. Young people want political education that
gives young people the inspiration to match their aspirations with
effective involvement, becoming active citizens of today and tomorrow.
Only thirty-eight per cent (38%) of young people think they
are taught Personal Finance Education. Young people want personal
finance education that allows them to be independent, take control of
their money, plan for a sustainable future and avoid the financial
risks of previous generations.
Fifty-two per cent (52%) of NW teens have never
volunteered. They want recognised volunteering opportunities that help
them understand their communities and gain life skills to prosper in
the future.
Sixty-seven per cent (67%) of young people think that the
media portrays them unfairly. They want a connection with wider society
that is not harmed by a negative portrayal of young people in the media
and that lets young people be judged by who they are and what they do.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP
(Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Tatton) said, ‘I am really
pleased that young people from across the North West are coming
together to propose solutions to many of the economic and political
challenges we face today. I have witnessed at first hand the talent of
young people in the North West by talking to my young constituents in
Tatton. The Young Citizens’ Action Agenda is a fantastic way for young
people to have their voices heard and help us try to overcome the
challenges we all face.’
Panelist Nicola Haydon, 16, from
Brampton, Cumbria said, ‘It was excellent that the Chancellor listened
to our views and responded to our concerns. I hope the Government uses
the ideas in our Action Agenda to help young people take an active part
overcoming the challenges we face now and in the future.’
For further information on the event please check out reports
from Knutsford High School students on the BBC School Report website.
Thurs 23rd October 2010Chancellor to hear the
views of 12,000 NW teens Young
people (14-19 years old) from across the North West will meet the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP at Rudheath Youth
Centre, Cheshire, on Friday 24th September to present him with their
Action Agenda for the North West. The report represents the
views
of over 12,000 young citizens from across the NW
region. At
a time of economic uncertainty, the Action Agenda calls for more
positive images of teenagers and challenges the Government to support
young people in achieving their ambitions to build a better future.
The
event with the Chancellor is part of the Young Citizens’ Action Agenda
project, run by the Institute for Citizenship and partner
organisations, which aims to develop citizenship life skills and help
young citizens understand and discuss key issues in politics, economics
and citizenship. The project encourages young
people to
learn the skills that will give them a voice, helping them to address
21st century challenges and play a bigger part in creating the ‘Big
Society’. With the results of the Government Spending Review
due
soon, the authors of the Action Agenda will be able to talk direct to
Government and make sure they get their ideas in first.
After
the Agenda is presented to Mr Osborne there will be a Question and
Answer session with the Chancellor, chaired by Annabel Tiffin,
Presenter, BBC North West Tonight and Politics Show NW.
Giving
young citizens the opportunity to question high-profile politicians,
business and community leaders on issues from MP’s expenses to the
credit crunch is an important feature of the project, which encourages
them to explore how the views of young people can influence policy and
decision making.
The main finding and recommendations of the
Action Agenda, which will also be delivered to key decision-makers and
opinion-formers across the NW and UK, include:
Only
eighteen per cent (18%) of NW young people feel they can influence
politics. Young people want political education that gives young people
the inspiration to match their aspirations with effective involvement,
becoming active citizens of today and tomorrow.
Only
thirty-eight per cent (38%) of young people think they are taught
Personal Finance Education. Young people want personal finance
education that allows them to be independent, take control of their
money, plan for a sustainable future and avoid the financial risks of
previous generations.
Fifty-two per cent (52%) of NW teens
have never volunteered. They want recognised volunteering opportunities
that help them understand their communities and gain life skills to
prosper in the future.
Sixty-seven per cent (67%) of young
people think that the media portrays them unfairly. They want a
connection with wider society that is not harmed by a negative
portrayal of young people in the media and that lets young people be
judged by who they are and what they do.
Rt Hon George Osborne
MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Tatton) said, ‘I am really
pleased that young people from across the North West are coming
together to propose solutions to many of the economic and political
challenges we face today. I have witnessed at first hand the talent of
young people in the North West by talking to my young constituents in
Tatton. The Young Citizens’ Action Agenda is a fantastic way for young
people to have their voices heard and help us try to overcome the
challenges we all face.’
Panelist Shirin Ibrahim, 16, from
Blackburn said, ‘I want this Action Agenda to be taken seriously by
decision-makers to make young people aware about how important they are
to society and show them that we can make a positive change.’
The Institute for Citizenship and the Greater Manchester Challenge are
inviting Greater Manchester schools/youth groups to bring young people
from Years 10/11 to take part in our exciting Learner's Voice workshop
on Thursday 14th October 2010 at the Co-operative, Manchester.
The exciting event, run by an Educational Consultant and a Theatre
Workshop facililator, aims to give young people the skills to have a
voice in school and in their community and will finish with a debate
with key decision-makers from Greater Manchester. A full list of guests
will be available in early September.
For more information please see the flyer and
if you would like to sign up please contact Daniel Jackson, Institute
for Citizenship on 020 7841 5159 or daniel@citizen.org.uk.
Today,
the Institute for Citizenship launched its final survey
consultation with young people (aged 14-19) across the North West to
create a groundbreaking Young Citizens’ Action Agenda for the North
West. The agenda of key action points will be delivered to
the
new Government in the summer of 2010.
Young people
now have the chance to choose the key points to go into the Action
Agenda from nearly 100 ideas created by over 10,000 young people
involved in the project from across the North West.
Zandria
Pauncefort, Chief Executive, Institute for Citizenship said, ‘After
such a close fought election, young people across the North West now
have this exciting opportunity to present their ideas to the new
Government. The YCAA NW is an exciting project that
encourages
young people to learn the skills that will give them a voice and help
them play a part in society. The Action
Agenda puts
young people’s proposals at the heart of policy making and we urge
young people to take the time to choose their favourite ideas for
inclusion in the Action Agenda, helping to address 21st century
challenges’ and contribute to the development of the ‘Big Society’.
Young people (aged 14 - 19) can take the survey online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TKG9G8R.
Alternatively, you can download a PDF copy HERE
and return it to the Institute for Citizenship.
Teachers
wishing to use the survey as part of their Citizenship or PSHE lessons
can also download a free Key Stage 4 Teaching Resource HERE
(which can also be adapted for other Key Stages).
The survey closes on: Friday
18th June 2010 at 5pm.
The main finding and recommendations of the
Action Agenda include:
Only eighteen per cent (18%) of NW young people feel they
can influence politics. Young people want political education that
gives young people the inspiration to match their aspirations with
effective involvement, becoming active citizens of today and tomorrow.
Only thirty-eight per cent (38%) of young people think they
are taught Personal Finance Education. Young people want personal
finance education that allows them to be independent, take control of
their money, plan for a sustainable future and avoid the financial
risks of previous generations.
Fifty-two per cent (52%) of NW teens have never
volunteered. They want recognised volunteering opportunities that help
them understand their communities and gain life skills to prosper in
the future.
Sixty-seven per cent (67%) of young people think that the
media portrays them unfairly. They want a connection with wider society
that is not harmed by a negative portrayal of young people in the media
and that lets young people be judged by who they are and what they do.
Rt Hon George Osborne MP
(Chancellor of the Exchequer and MP for Tatton) said, ‘I am really
pleased that young people from across the North West are coming
together to propose solutions to many of the economic and political
challenges we face today. I have witnessed at first hand the talent of
young people in the North West by talking to my young constituents in
Tatton. The Young Citizens’ Action Agenda is a fantastic way for young
people to have their voices heard and help us try to overcome the
challenges we all face.’
For further information on the event please check out reports
from Knutsford High School students on the BBC School Report website.
There will be further photos, comments and reaction here next
week.
Ten
young people from the Burnage Multi Agency Group worked with the Media
Trust to produce a report from the groundbreaking Young Citizens'
Action Event at the Opera House, Manchester. See their film below:
