Power change – the young voices making waves in local government
Young people in the city are celebrating the impact they have made ‘at the heart’ of local government through the power of their voices.
A year after Brighton & Hove City Council became the first in the country to sign up to the national Power of Youth Charter, local youth groups say they have made significant progress in influencing change.
In committing to the joining the charter in January 2021, the council made vowed to empower young people to shape decisions, take social action and make a positive difference
Josh Arnold-Jenkins, 24, is a member of the Brighton & Hove Care Leavers Forum (CLF), one of the groups that have been working directly with the council to improve services for children and young people.
'The voices of young people have never been more important'
Josh said: “I’ve seen a massive change in the last nine months. Through the power of young people’s voices, we are putting children and young people at the very heart of the services provided for them.
“Hearing the voice of young people has never been more important. Young people are living lives full of challenges and uncertainty. Many come from backgrounds where life was made more difficult by decisions made for them.
“Through taking part in boards and helping to train new foster carers and interview new staff, we are now involved in these decisions, making changes and promoting what is important to us.”
"I have found a community of young people that have a passion for change in social care.”
Passion for change
At January’s Children, Young People & Skills Committee (CYPS) meeting, councillors heard about the progress the city’s Youth Council, Care Leavers Forum, Youth Wise and other youth groups have been making.
Louise Brown, 17, deputy chair of the Youth Council, said: “I’ve seen a real impact on my community since I first presented the Power of Youth Charter to CYPS committee in January last year.
“As a Youth Council, we have been actively involved in the decision-making that affects the lives and futures of thousands of young people and have had a 100% say over how some important youth grant funding is spent.
“As a co-opted member of the council’s CYPS committee, I’ve been able to make a real impact on the decisions being made.”
The Youth Council has also made progress in its commitment to social action. It hosted the city’s Youth Climate Assembly and has campaigned and taken action on reducing plastic usage in our city.
Youth Council chair, Alfie Douglas, Sophie (middle) and deputy chair, Louise Brown
Make your difference!
Louise added: “2022 will be an exciting year for youth engagement in the city, and we are keen to get many more young people involved. If you are interested in making local change, we need you!
“In February the Youth Council will be co-hosting a celebration event bringing together all the youth groups in the city, and we’ll launch our Make Your Mark campaign on 1 February to find out which current issues are most pressing to young people in the city.”
The Power of Youth Charter was created by the #iwill campaign, which is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and The National Lottery Community Fund to encourage young people to participate in social action.
Councillor Hannah Clare, chair of the council’s Children, Young People and Skills Committee, said: “I am so proud of the progress that our young people have made in the last year to fulfill our Power of Youth commitments.
“Both the Youth Council and Care Leavers Forum are now involved in council decision-making, bringing new energy, perspectives and skills to the table.
“Through Youth Wise, young people whose voices may not usually be heard are regularly getting their voices heard by councillors.
Councillor Clare, who was a Young Essex Assembly member as a teenager, said: “We’re making progress but there’s more that can be done, and getting more young people involved is key to that.
“If you’re a young person passionate about improving the lives of young people in the city, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills and really make a positive difference.”
How to get involved
Youth Council is looking for new members. Please get in touch if you are a young person aged 13-19 (or 13-25 if you have a special educational need) and are resident in Brighton & Hove! Please contact Tracie James at tracie.james@brighton-hove.gov.uk
To get involved in Youth Wise, contact your local youth service provider from this directory of youth services (brighton-hove.gov.uk) or Tracie James at tracie.james@brighton-hove.gov.uk
The Care Leavers Forum is open to young people aged 18-25 who grew up in care. Get in touch via CareLeaversForum@brighton-hove.gov.uk
