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Over the past few months, Charnwood Youth Councillors have been working towards a volunteering award organised by the Loughborough Lions Club. Currently four Youth Councillors have received their awards with others soon to be receiving them. The four that have recently received their awards were invited to a gathering with the Loughborough Lions club and were awarded by the Chairman of the group! Youth Councillors, Luke, Anjli and Michael achieved a gold award (100+ hours volunteering) and Rhea achieved a silver award (50+ hours volunteering). Youth Councillor Luke St Denis said "The Lions award gives young people an opportunity to be recognized for the contribution and the part they play in their local communities. It makes me proud to be able to take part in these awards because it makes me realize how much hard work I have put in to my community to help others". Youth councillor Rhea Heath doesn't plan to stop there either, she is now starting from scratch and building up those hours again in order to achieve a gold award "The lions award was a fulfilling and valuable experience of which I thoroughly enjoyed". The four youth councillors all received an certificate, a letter from the lions club and a badge.
Well done everyone!
On 20th April 2012 the Olympic Torch relay test event took place on the section of the official route between Leicester and Peterborough.
Charnwood Youth Councillor, Michael Meyerstein, was nominated by Charnwood Borough Council to participate in the test event for the Olympic torch relay. Michael said "It was an honour to be nominated to take part in the event. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that not many others will get to do. The whole experience was excellent".
Michael had to carry the torch over a 300 metre stretch, the last part of the leg at Loughborough university. At the end of the stretch Michael was greeted by Lord Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG).
The event was covered by many local and national radio and television stations and replicates the route the Olympic torch will take for the official relay.
On Friday 23rd March 2012 7 members of Charnwood Youth Council visited local young people who live in hostels and temporary accommodation provided by local homelessness charities. At the meeting, Youth Councillors explored the issue of youth homelessness and what could be done by participators and services to make them more effective.
This tied into Youth Councillors running a sponsored event entitled "Cardboard City" which saw them sleep rough for a night in cardboard boxes. This raised several hundred pounds for local homelessness charities.
The Youth Councillors found from their meeting with the homeless young people (aged 16-21 years):
- There is an urgent need for more affordable housing and supported accommodation to be made available. Some of the young people said they felt they stayed in temporary accommodation for too long.
- The homeless young people cited that they felt local youth homelessness and housing difficulties were triggered by poor education, poor coping skills, lack of self esteem, diffult family situations, poor parental support, over crowding in the family home and having mental health difficulties.
- Most of the homeless young people felt that the best support they received was from the voluntary sector and the charities.
- Many of the homeless young people felt hindered by the stereotyping and stigma that their situation gave them-making jobs and finding permanent accommodation more difficult.
- Nearly all the homeless young people cited that they felt they had a good directory of information about services and support targeted at them would help. Many stated that they had no idea where to go to find support and how to help themselves. They felt that such a directory would be very beneficial.
- Nearly all the homeless young people stated that they felt help and support wasn't given quick enough.
- Many of the homeless young people mentioned that they felt that training and work placements offered by Councils that targeted them would be a good idea to move forward.
In addition to Charnwood Youth Councils "Cardboard City" event, some video diaries were produced throughout the night for the local "Youth Shelter" to show at their conference style event. Some of the video diaries can be viewed on youtube, just search "charnwood youth council cardboard city" or follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFVSUN1hNmo
The votes have been counted and we are pleased to announce the results.
Members of Youth Parliament
- Karishma
- Poppie
- Helena
- Todd
Deputy Members of Youth Parliament
- Andrew
- Tamsin
- Omar
Thank-you to everyone who stood and everyone who voted.
People are being urged to nominate their superstars in the hunt for community champions from the district.The council’s Outstanding Achievement Awards, now in their 6th year, are fast approaching, and friends, families, and workmates are asked to put forward individuals or groups who they think deserve recognition for exceptional work in the district.Barbara Berry won the Outstanding Achievement Award category B last year for her work organising volunteers and setting up the Borrowers Toy Library in Huncote, she said:“There are many people who give their energy and time, regularly and freely and continue to work tirelessly to support local groups and organisations. If you know someone who gives so much of themselves to a worthwhile cause then put their name forward.“Although no-one looks for publicity or acclaim it feels good to be recognised, valued and appreciated.”
Award categories include:
- A - Outstanding achievement by a young person
- B - Selfless Services to a voluntary body or the community which is of a social or environmental nature
- C - Community or voluntary group that improves the quality of life for residents in the district
- D - Individual or group that makes the district a safer place to live
Sponsors supporting the prestigious awards are Grove Park Commercial Centre, Fosse Shopping Park, Bardon Aggregates, Ford and Slater and Marriott Leicester. Shortlisted nominees will be invited to a Presentation Dinner on 1st October 2009 at the Leicester Marriott, Grove Park.Trophies and cash prizes to a combined value of £3,250 will be awarded to the winners at the Dinner. To nominate someone special in your community, please call Lucy Wheeler on 0116 272 7512 or Kurt Moroz or alternatively email public.relations@blaby.gov.uk for a nomination form, or print out this one, http://www.thejitty.com/uploads/oaa-brochure.pdf
The deadline for nominations is 17th August
Omar Sharif, MYP for Dorset, is aiming to get 2000 signatures on his Downing Street public transport petition by June 4th, he’s nearly there with over 1700 - help him reach his goal!
On Thursday 14th May 2009 3 representatives from Blaby District Youth Council attended an event to start up a parish youth council. The Parish Council seem very enthusiastic to start up a new youth council in Narborough. A consolation means that the Parish and Youth Workers are asking the young people whether or not they would like a youth council. Young people that attended the event seemed very eager to make a difference in the community. Representatives from Blaby District Youth Forum will be helping Narborough Youth Council to become successful youth council.
A new document created by two members of Hinckley & Bosworth Youth Council, Martin and Simon, is set to be piloted in a Leicestershire school. John Cleveland College, Hinckley agreed to pilot the document, formally known as "Leicestershire Student and School Participation Charter".
The document was created with significant support from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, County Youth Council Leicestershire and Leicestershire County Council's Youth Service and Healthy Schools, both part of the County Council's Children and Young People's service. (read more...)
Blaby have held their election today and the new executive will be springing into action, and as for the Blaby Jitty Page this will be updated soon with the full details of the new executive and the Forum.
Today the Elections of Blaby Youth Forum were held in the Blaby office and the elected people were the following...
-Chair= Bryony
-Vice Chairs= Geena+Leighton
-Treasurer= Poppie
-Secretary= Tawonga
-Jitty Officer= Tarun
-Press & Publications & Communications Officer= Connor
-Events Officer= Matt
Soo lets see if these new executives will make any different to the Blaby Youth Forum!!