Young Citizens' Action Agenda for The UK
“We
can’t expect young people to participate in society unless we’re
serious about listening to their views. We know that young people
are passionate about the issues that affect their lives and we must
give them opportunities to question those who make the decisions.”David Dimbleby
President, Institute for Citizenship
The UK Young Citizens' Action Panel
Ten
young people from across the UK were randomly chosen in September 2008,
from over 400 volunteers to represent the views of young citizens in
the UK. The UK Panel worked with data from the Young Citizens' Say
Survey results and a UK-wide Schools Consultation to create a
representative Action Agenda that aims to:
- Inform the Prime Minister and government of areas where young people need government support
- Inform the Prime Minister and government of action young people could take to help with practical problems.
- Yemisi Adelana, 17, Greater London
- John McGlade, 17, West of England
- Chris Hennan, 17, Scotland
- Jane Thomas, 17, West of England
- Kashmira Gander, 17, South Coast
- Paul McMillan, 16, Scotland
- Eleanor Sturgeon, 17, Wales
- Tasmia Akkas, 18, Midlands
- William Nicholson, 17, West Midlands
- Gemma Hawkins, 18, South Coast
The Young Citizens' Action Agenda for The UK
For
three months the UK Panel used data from the Young Citizens' Say Survey
results and a UK-wide Schools' Consultation to create an Action
Agenda that would help young people face the complex challenges of the
21st century. Through working with researchers at the Institute for
Citizenship the UK panel created 12 action points that they thought the
Government and young people needed to face together to help society see
young people in a more positive light and for young people to take an
active part in society. The 12 action points were:
Our Lives
- Places To Be and Things To Do
- Learning 21st Century Skills
- Developing Financial Literacy
- Getting Involved in Volunteering
- Bridging the Generation Gap
- Getting About -Transport
- Relating to Decision Makers
- Education not Examination
- Learning How Society Works
- YoungGov - A Portal For All Young Citizens
- Being a Global Citizen
- Being an Environmental Citizen
The Young Citizens' Action Agenda for The UK was presented to the Government on Wednesday 17th December 2008.
(Back Row L - R) Chris Hennan, Paul McMillan, John McGlade (Front Row L - R) Kaz Gander, Jane Thomas, Yemisi Adelana
Media Coverage
BBC School Report, 18.12.2008 - Our opinions presented to the PM
Inverclyde Now, 19.12.2008 - TEENAGERS Deliver 'To Do' List For Prime Minister
Inverclyde Council, 19.12.2008 - Port Glasgow pair in Downing Street plea
www.davidcairns.com, 21.12.2008 - YOUNG PORT CITIZENS MEET MP DURING TRIP TO WESTMINSTER
Evening Standard, 30.12.2008 - We need to learn skills for life, not just passing exams, say teenagers
Institute for Citizenship Press Release
Gallery
To see pictures from the Action Agenda presentation day please click here.
Links
Back to The Agenda
Young Citizens' Action Agenda for London
Please Note:
- For more information on the Young Citizens' Action Agenda project please visit our About the Project page.
- The
views expressed in this document are those of the young people involved
in the Young Citizens’ UK Panel and not necessarily those of the
organisations involved in the project. The Action Plans are based on
responses to the Young Citizens’ Say survey and the deliberative
process that the Panel has been through. Although curriculum
pressures make it difficult to get responses from schools, a draft of
the document was e-mailed to UK schools for comment.
- Unless otherwise stated, all statistics quoted in the document are from the Institute for Citizenship’s Young Citizens’ Say survey taken in July/August 2008 and the Young Citizens’ Action Event voting taken on the 10th July 2008.
