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Consultation on Priorities for Youth for the Department of Education
The Big Deal has carried out a consultation on Priorities for Youth for the Department of Education. This was a follow up from last years ‘What We Want' consultation. 114 young people took part from throughout Northern Ireland. Children and young people's voices was the number one area that young people felt needed to be addressed. This was followed by places to go and things to do, support for young people and good relations. Young people were given the opportunity to provide practical solutions to the issues.
It was clear from the findings that young people do not feel they are listened to and their opinions do not count as much as adults as one young person said "The government always says they will do this and that, and they don't do it!" This was an underlying sentiment in all the issues, young people would like a say in all aspects of their lives particularly youth provision and the clubs/centres they attend.
Information was the issue that was seen as a priority by the fewest young people, however, this was also underlying throughout the consultation. For each of the other issues young people commented that they didn't know about opportunities or what was going on where they live and called for better promotion and advertising of services. Some of the changes that young people suggested, such as money management, career and job advice and links with health agencies already exist, but the young people and perhaps their leaders do not know about them. Clear information for young people and workers could go some way to rectify a number of issues raised.
What happens with the info:
The Department of Education will use this information along with last years What We Want report and consultations with workers and managers in the development of a formal consultation document on the Priorities for Youth Work as part of Education. This will be published in spring 2010.
You can download a copy of the report HERE
Finally, we would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that gave up your time to
