Anyone aged 13 to 19 who lives in the city or attends a local school, college or youth group, is eligible to join the Brighton & Hove Youth Council, as well as adults up to the age of 25 who have a special educational need or disability.
Members can support their local community and get involved in issues that matter to them including campaigns on climate change and plastic waste. Other opportunities open to members include involvement with the Youth Climate Assembly, sports, transport and LGBTQU+ issues.
Previous work includes helping to improve young people’s mental health support and establishing a curriculum to prepare young people with relevant life skills.
Youth Council member Ben Skinner, 17, said: “If you’re a young person who wants your views to be heard in the city, the Youth Council is a great place to be.
“What I’ve enjoyed most has been the campaign work such as tackling climate change and reducing plastic waste. We can talk directly to city councillors and it’s really rewarding knowing our opinions count and making a positive impact on future policy decisions.
“We attend at least one meeting a month and other opportunities in-between sometimes. It has helped to build my confidence and develop my public speaking skills and meet new people.
“You’ll be making a real difference while having fun and making friends at the same time!”
Cllr Hannah Clare, chair of the Children, Young People and Skills Committee, added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to make sure the views of young people don’t get ignored.
“You’ll gain great experience which will make your CV or application to university stand out. We especially want to encourage young people from the BAME, SEND and LGBTQU+ communities to get involved.”
For more information on the Youth Council, visit the Youth Council pages or contact Rob Scoble, leader youth participation officer, by emailing rob.scoble@brighton-hove.org.uk, or phoning 07795 336 311.
You must be logged in to post a comment.