Vox pop 2009
Facilities Q&A
Q. How could the County Council support the Borough and Districts to put youth shelters around Leicestershire as a place for young people to meet? Polly, MYC
DP supports the idea of Youth Shelters.
IO suggests that we identify the locations that need them and get the Parish Council’s support. Young people should then go through CYCLe to pass that information on to IO. The Parish Council will be able to find the best location for the shelter. IO also warned that the local residents might react badly to the idea at first.
Carl said that in his village the Next Generation bus comes once a week and provides a great place to meet and sometimes takes the group out. Having more of these mobile youth centres would be great.
Q. How important is it for you to provide facilities and activities for young people? How are you safe guarding money for youth services during the credit crunch? Jess, NWLYC
DP said this is very important. They are doing their very best to safe guard as much as they can. Youth services are very important.
EW commented that in Blaby the adults also want more facilities for young people.
IO suggested that the youth councils should be working with the area forums and youth champion meetings (Action).
DW said that we need to get some money locally and that it’s important to make sure that the young people are deciding on the facilities and not just councillors / adults.
A few young people mentioned that in Hinckley & Bosworth there is an evening for young people at a local club, Elements, which has regularly seen 700 young people. The event is run with the support of Youth Workers and the local police.
DP was impressed with the comments and would like to see a report about Elements (Action).
Q. Would you say there is a suitable youth centre or club in every village or town in Leicestershire? If not, why not? Jenny, NWLYC
(DP) Probably not. The Council doesn’t have an endless pot of money but they will support suggestions for new ideas.
DW mentioned that Hinckley and Bosworth has secured funding for a new youth facility.
Jenny from Battram mentioned that the youth facility there does not allow teenagers in there. IO said he would look into why this is (Action).
Q. Could there be a way that more youth clubs and activities for 13-19 year olds be available during the school holidays, including Easter and half-term? Beth, CYF
(DP) “There must be a way!” DP will ask IO to make some proposals in the future (Action).
(IO) The new ‘Extended Services’ will allow schools to open during holidays and weekends and provide facilities.
Q. In schools important issues such as voting, politics, filling in tax forms, understanding bank accounts (i.e., real life necessities) are not being taught. How can this be improved? Emily, CYCLe
IO said that most of this is being introduced to then curriculum next year. He also raised the question ‘How much of this should be taught by parents?’ and ‘What happens when it is not?’
DP noted that it is hard to teach Politics in schools as they often wish to keep party politics out of schools. DP is happy to go to any school and talk about politics.
There was a long discussion about teaching ‘Life Skills’ in schools which the young people and the councillors both enjoyed.
Outcome: Involve young people in more discussions around democracy and ‘party’ politics