Title of Report: Officer Presenting:

Update on the European Youth Capital Bid Author: Director of Legacy

1 Purpose of Report/Recommendations

1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Members of the European Youth Capital bid for 2019 (EYC19) bid and to seek approval to develop a detailed programme for the Year of Youth in 2019.

2 Background

 In June 2015 members gave approval for Derry City and Strabane District Council to respond to the open call for the European Youth Capital 2019. In February 2016 members gave approval for the submission of the Concept Paper.  It was agreed that the EYC19 bid would be embedded within Derry City and Strabane District’s Community Planning Process to ensure that youth within the area had a platform to engage and voice their priorities for the Derry and Strabane area. Therefore regardless of the outcome on the awarding of the title, the Council is committing with its partners to progress on the key issues raised by young people.

2.1 The ‘European Youth Capital’ (EYC) is a title granted by the to a European City for a period of one year, during which it is given the chance to showcase its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development. The EYC initiative encourages the implementation of new ideas and innovative projects with regard to the active participation of young people in society, and seeks to present a role model for the future development of other European municipalities. 2.2 Following the submission of the Concept Note, the bid was shortlisted to the final five cities/regions. Two detailed submissions were subsequently produced for the June and September deadlines which addressed the feedback provided by the European Youth Forum. 2.3 On 16th November a delegation led by the Deputy Mayor Councillor Jim McKeever with the Director of Legacy, EYC Engagement Officer, EANI Youth Officer and three youth ambassadors Conal Fagan, Louise Moore and Oisín Tomás Reily attended the award ceremony in at which the three ambassadors gave a first class presentation to an audience in excess of three thousand people. Live feeds were organised in four venues in Derry, Strabane, Claudy and Castlederg where young people were invited to watch the live proceedings. Later that evening, Novisad, were announced as the European Youth Capital for 2019.

3 Key Issues

3.1 Despite an incredible effort, the EYC19 submission from Derry City and Strabane District Council area was not successful. The independent assessment plan will provide feedback on the final submission within the next few weeks. Notwithstanding this feedback we know from previous discussions with the European Youth Forum that our bid was of an exceptional high standard.

3.2 An internal report will be completed on the ‘Lessons Learnt’ to assist any future submission or any other bid for a national or international title. One key observation from the attending the award ceremony is the importance of being connected with and to all the European Youth networks. 3.3 Young people have been at the heart of the bid process and over the past 15 months in excess of 10,000 young people have been involved in helping to shape the draft actions within the EYC19 Programme. This engagement and participation has taken several forms including a weekly meeting with a core group of young people who signed up as EYC19 champions as well as focus workshops and a schools/colleges roadshow.

It is proposed that this engagement should continue and that Council in partnership with the young people and key agencies should develop a programme for a dedicated Year of Youth in 2019, under the motto of Every Youth Counts, taking the branding of EYC19 forward. This programme would build under the five themes of the bid for European Youth capital as they are firmly established in the context of the Community Plan: Youth Democracy; Health and Wellbeing; Education & Skills; Access and Inclusion; and Cultural Programme.

3.4 As a legacy of the bidding process, it is proposed that Council should

 Build on our youth participation and engagement;

 Deliver on the Community Planning Outcomes through a Year of Youth in 2019;

 Link with Novisad European Youth Capital for 2019 for collaborative projects;  Become an advocate with NICCY for NI to have a Youth Parliament;

 Develop collaborative projects with Donegal;

 Secure all-Ireland and U.K. branded events

 Develop European networks through the newly formed Youth Council

3.5 It is proposed that a Year of Youth programme for 2019 would be presented to the January meeting of Governance and Strategic Planning for approval. Subsequently a celebration event is planned for the last weekend in January in both Strabane and Derry to acknowledge the participation to date and formally announce a Year of Youth for 2019. Our marketing and communication team will continue to promote the active engagement of young people and assist in communicating our key messages.

4 Financial, Equality, Legal, HR, Improvement and other Implications

4.1 The costs of developing a programme for the Year of Youth and the Music Celebration events are covered within the previously approved budget by Members.

4.2 As the programme is developed estimated costings will be produced and sources of funding identified. To date applications to the value of £1.2m have been submitted to the Peace IV Programme and scoping has been undertaken with the Big Lottery and the Arts Council for NI. Previously the Big Lottery had agreed to host a meeting of Trusts and Foundations and we will pusue this offer of support now under the banner of Year of Youth.

4.3 The contribution to be sought from Derry City and Strabane District Council will in the first instance be considered by the Capital and Revenues Group with a paper then to be submitted for approval to Council.

4.4 The management structure for the project going forward will be incorporated in the January committee paper.

5 Recommendations

5.1 It is recommended that members note the update on the submission of the EYC19 bid and approve the development of a detailed programme for the Year of Youth in 2019.

Background Papers