Young People will be heard in South Lakeland

18 October 2011

South Lakeland District Council will be helping young people to have a voice in South Lakeland by establishing a Young People’s Project Board.  SLDC is keen to engage with a younger audience and wants young people to be involved in the decision-making at the council.

The Young People’s Project Board will meet on a quarterly basis and will engage with young people from across the district, representatives from other interested organisations and councillors and staff from SLDC. 

There is a lot of good work currently going on within SLDC but it tends to be uncoordinated.  The Board would be able to build on the good practice already in place and share information across the whole of the council to the benefit of all young people.

SLDC has always recognised that young people are an important part of the local community and as part of this new initiative has also agreed to sign up for twelve months to the secure social networking site, Speak-Up, managed by Connexions Cumbria.  

Councillor Hilary Stephenson, portfolio holder for Communities and Wellbeing, said: “The Young People’s Project Board will find out what is important to young people and what issues affect them.  We want to give our young people a voice in a less formal atmosphere so they can express themselves in a familiar environment.  The council is looking forward to working with young people so that we can improve their involvement in local democracy.” 

The Vision, Terms of Reference, an Action Plan and the make-up of the Board will be in place by the end of December 2011.  Councillors will be given targeted support and training and SLDC’s Human Resources department will also be exploring the possibilities of a graduate training programme and other types of work placements at the council.