PUBLIC YOUTH COUNCIL

THE YOUNG VOICE

Minutes from the meeting at Bolsover District Council held on Friday 26th January 2018, at 10:00am.

PRESENT:

Shirebrook : 6 Youth Cllrs.

Frederick Gent School: 5 Youth Cllrs.

Heritage High School: 6 Youth Cllrs.

Bolsover School: 4 Youth Cllrs.

Guest Speakers: Cllr Emma Stevenson (BDC), Will Robinson (Young Minds).

Bolsover District Council: R. Gadsby (Customer Service and Improvement), R. Knightley (Partnership and Communications) Cllr Mary Dooley (Deputy Leader BDC), Cllr Emma Stevenson (BDC), Cllr Tom Munro (BDC Chair).

Chair: .

1. HOUSEKEEPING AND APOLOGIES

The Youth Council were reminded of the Housekeeping requirements of the Arc.

Apologies were received from Stubbin Wood School, School and Jon Tipton (Extreme Wheels).

The chair asked the youth councillors to make sure that they have signed the register.

2. ICE-BREAKER

An icebreaker exercise was organised by Shirebrook Academy in which a ball was thrown between Youth Councillors in a circle who had to say something they liked using the first letter of their names.

3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

Agreed – the minutes of the Young Voice meeting held on the 13/11/17 be approved as a correct and accurate record.

4. MEET THE COUNCILLOR Q&A (EMMA STEVENSON)

Cllr. Emma Stevenson gave the Youth Councillors an insight to her journey as a Councillor. She gave a background of how she became a councillor and the etiquette was required to have. Cllr. Stevenson gave information to the youth councillors about PUBLIC voting and how this has changed over time, she spoke about UNIONS and the different types of councils that are responsible for different things.

The Youth Councillors then had chance to ask any questions they had about becoming and being a councillor. Some of these included; favourite part of being a councillor, biggest challenge, responsibilities and any strange requests!

After the Q&A MP Dennis Skinner came to speak with the Youth Councillors and take pictures with the schools.

5. YOUNG MINDS UPDATE

The chair welcomed Will Robinson from Young Minds to give a presentation on the charity. Will explained to the Youth Councillors how Young Minds came about, what they do and how you could get involved yourself.

He showed a video which explained the Activist Network of Young Minds and how young people can get involved and help other young people. There was also training that could be given to individuals and organisations who are involved with young people.

Will reminded the youth councillors about the #HelloYellow campaign which some of them were already familiar with.

#HelloYellow Campaign – Wednesday 10th October 2018 (World Mental Health Day) for more information visit: www.youngminds.org.uk

Sandra Peake from Shirebrook Academy told the Youth Councillors that at Shirebrook they have Mental Health Ambassadors. She also mentioned the Butterfly Project (self-harm support group) and that she had posters for the other schools to put up.

6. STEREOTYPES

Richard gave a presentation to conclude the stereotype discussions from the last youth council meeting. He recapped on what they had found last time which included why people stereotype, groups that may be stereotyped and negative and positive stereotypes of young people.

The youth councillors were split into the same 3 groups and were given the question “What can we do to promote a positive image of young people and avoid stereotypes?” to discuss.

Group 1 o Posters displaying ‘typical’ stereotypes going against that stereotype o School meetings o And evening where people can come together and discuss stereotypes and how it makes them feel o Providing more information on stereotypes arounds schools PUBLIC Group 2 o Assemblies o PowerPoints in form o School newsletter

Group 3 o Look wider to tackle fake news o Use promotions o Meetings to discuss stereotypes further (true or false)

7. UPDATES  Piggy Bank Fund

Richard recapped that the Young Voice has a small pot of money it can tap into for projects chosen by the Youth Council.

He proposed that the Youth Councillors through their schools apply for funding of up to £250 to support their projects and that applications needed to meet the following criteria:

o Led by young people aged 11-16 o Benefit young people or wider community in the District o Addresses one or more themes of the Young Voice Manifesto

AGREED – that the above should be the application process for funding the youth council projects.

 First Aid App

Richard shared with the Youth Council the Red Cross First Aid App Launch http://www.redcross.org.uk/app

 Future Meeting Dates

Richard explained to the Youth councillors that he would look into getting the youth council to attend a full Council meeting.

8. FEEDBACK FORMS

Richard handed out feedback forms for the Youth Councillors to fill in.

The meeting concluded at 12:05pm.

Details of next meeting: Wednesday 21st March 2018, 10am – 2pm at The Arc, Clowne.