Youth Council invite young change-makers to town hall event
Young people in Brighton & Hove have the chance to use their voice to make a real difference to the future of their generation in the city and beyond.
Brighton & Hove City Council’s Youth Council are looking for new members and are hosting an Induction Day on Saturday 16 October open to any people aged between 13 and 19 in the city who are interested in changing the lives of young people for the better.
Young people from the BAME and LGBTQ communities are particularly encouraged to get involved, as well as those with Special Educational Needs, aged 13 to 25.
Be the voice of young people in the city
From climate change to the mental health of young people, the Youth Council helps ensure the issues that matter most to young people are on the agenda locally.
The council’s deputy leader, Councillor Hannah Clare, will be there to welcome those attending. As a former youth council member in Essex, Hannah is passionate about the valuable experience and the head-start it gave her, as one of the youngest council leaders in the country.
The Youth Council (YC) is part of the city council, and members take part in debates and meetings with councillors, politicians and other decision-makers in the city to represent the voices of young people, and influence policy and decisions that affect their future.
Alfie, Sophie and Louise are all members of the Youth Council
Louise, 17, who has been a member for over a year, says: “Youth council has allowed me to build my confidence in public speaking and interacting with council members. Through various projects I have been given the opportunity to present talks to council and participate in making sure youth projects get the funding they deserve.
“If you are interested in making a change in your local area Youth Council is a great place to start!”
In the last year the Youth Council events have campaigned on plastic waste, co-hosting a Climate Q&A with local MPs and taken part in a fun Beach Clean with a Youth Council from Essex.
The Induction Day is being held in person at Brighton Town Hall from 10.30am till 3.30pm. There is no obligation to join. Please register in advance. *
Exciting time to get involved in Youth Council conference 2022
Councillor Clare, who is also chair of the Children, Young People and Skills Committee – which Youth Council members attend – said:
“I am really excited to be attending this event and welcoming young people interested in joining us,” said Hannah. “It will be the first time Youth Council have met in person since the beginning of the pandemic, so it’s a great time to get involved.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who wants to get involved in improving the lives of young people in the city to come along and meet us.
“As a teenager, my four years on the Young Essex Assembly was an amazing experience. I learned new skills, like debating, teamwork and leadership. I met so many people my age, as well as politicians and council officers - and I got a chance to really change lives.
“You’ll get the opportunity to take part in the city-wide Youth Council conference we are planning for 2022 as part of the national youth council Make your Make campaign. This will decide the top ten issues concerning young people to set the agenda for national government.
"You’ll also gain great experience which will make your CV or application to university stand out - and make friends!”
Other opportunities open to Youth Council members include involvement with the Youth Climate Assembly, sports, transport, LGBTQ+ issues, as well as getting involved with the British Youth Council to gain national experience. Members typically commit 2-4 hours of time per month.
For more information on the Youth Council, visit our Youth Council pages.
Please note that at this time we are looking for young people who are interested in putting themselves forward – they don’t need to be nominated by their school.
* To register for the event or to find out more, contact Tracie James , the council’s Youth Participation Officer, by emailing tracie.james@brighton-hove.org.uk
