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“BBC Radio 1 - The Big Conversation” – Be there to be heard
INVITATION TO UKYP – Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs)
The British Youth Council (who are one of the partners of Radio 1 in this initiative) invite MYPs/DMYPs to come to the Big Conversation event - discussing the views of young people which were gathered in a massive UK opinion poll on a whole range of issues – relationships, values, school and work, social action, politics, world issues, the future… UKYP will join group of young leaders and representatives at the Big Conversation in London City Hall on 13th September with leaders, and opinion formers. The aim is to come up with a pledge that will get the support of millions of young people, which we would then ask the Prime Minister and the Government to make to young people.
We would like to invite 10 UKYP members to take part. We are looking for people from all parts of the UK who are willing and able to travel on that day, you can be accompanied - but dropped off and picked up afterwards.
All you have to do is send an email titled ‘Radio1BigConversationUKYP’ to jane.oleary@byc.org.uk stating your name, age, occupation, membership organisation/s and your role in it, say yes that you have permission to attend (if under 18) and why you would like to be there. We/Radio 1 can refund your travel costs. The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 7th August.
If we get more than 10 applications we will take the first 10 that represent a spread across the country, genders and ages, but keep in touch with the rest.
You’ve got to take part to be a player – so be there to have your say
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MYP invited to No 10 to share his perspective
19th August 2011
This week Member of the UK Youth Parliament for Sheffield Harrison Carter, was invited to No 10 Downing Street to share his views on the potential and pitfalls of the Big Society. This was in response to a letter he wrote, timely in the light of recent events.
Harrison discussed the National Citizen Service service referring to a survey of young people views, and called for the scheme to be more sustainable, giving young people the opportunity to learn new skills, once they had completed the first wave of projects. Harrison also asked that the Prime Minister meet with a delegation of young leaders (from BYC and UKYP) to listen to what we have to say on a range of campaigns, to see that young people can be involved in being part of the solution to issues, not part of the problem.
Harrison said: "It was important for me to give an insight into how schemes involving young people play out on the ground and how these initiatives go from paper to real-life. I shared with the policy unit the successes of the programmes seen in Sheffield and the areas that require further thinking. Restoring this sense of duty to our communities has to be the next step we all take. The staff at No10 were really responsive and eager to get young people involved in setting out ideas for future Big Society driven policies."
HAVE YOUR SAY TO THE PRIME MINISTER
BYC, UKYP and Young Mayors are following up their initial statements condemning the rioting and looting by conducting a survey of grass roots reactions and proposals gathered by young community representatives from their networks across the country. We will present these to the Childrens Minister Tim Loughton MP, and send a report to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, to follow up our request for a meeting. Now that the dust has settled we want to demonstrate that young people are just as capable of reflective and reasoned argument and their leaders are willing to be partners in rebuilding communities.
Have your say on the riots and complete the survey here
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Looting and Riots - "Condemned"
9th August 2011
Statement by UK Youth Parliament
The UKYP condemn all forms violence used towards property or any member of the general public. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the families of those involved as victims in these riots around the country.
We believe that such acts of violence and public misconduct are not the way for any young person or adults to get their voices heard in any way, shape or form.
We wish to express our support for the Police and Fire Service in their efforts to restore order in these communities.
We also unconditionally support the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that Government has a duty to ensure that all children and young people are protected from all forms of violence and are safe in society.
We appeal to all young people to co-operate with the authorities to ensure safety and order is restored. We believe that young people should be recognised for their positive contribution to society, and in the world - now, and in the future
2011
London Region
The London region of the UK Youth Parliament strongly condemns the criminal acts perpetrated by rioters in London and elsewhere. This vandalism and theft is unjustifiable. Members of the Youth Parliament from across London are united in their shock and disbelief at the violence occurring in the local authorities they represent. We believe these rioters are grossly unrepresentative of young people in London, the vast majority of whom support the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade in their brave struggle to restore public order.
UKYP London have also been calling on decision makers to alter their course and support this generation of young people more, rather than cutting funding to the support networks they rely on. We are in the middle of running our own scrutiny enquiry into the closure of youth centres and educational facilities, which may have been a factor in denying young people access to positive activities that steer them away from crime, so a review of these extensive spending cuts is crucial in preventing this from ever reoccurring.
A Point of View:
'This event is a tragedy for the image of young people as it only involves a tiny minority of youths, yet will be seen by many as a representation of all young people. However this is clearly not the case. Young people need to work together to build the communities of the future and not have the rioters destroy the present. I truly feel for the innocent people that have had their livelihoods, homes and work places set on fire and looted. This behavior is unacceptable and saddening to see.'
Madison Rogers, DMYP,
(Media rep) 16 from Madeley near Newcastle under Lyme
Member of Staffordshire’s Youth Action Kouncil
Chair of Newcastle's Young People's Association
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