» Council View: Investing In Young People
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Mary Mears on investing in young people Right Here right now
It’s easy to knock teenagers. Like most people I had a chuckle at the ‘Kevin’ character on The Fast Show a few years back. But I think we should spend more time celebrating all the good things they put their energies into.
Did you know, for example, that an amazing 3,500 young people are actively involved in our city’s Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme? These are all people engaging with their communities and helping other people – and without looking for publicity. They’re just getting on with it.
A new £800,000 youth mental health project the council is running with Sussex Central YMCA and Mind in Brighton and Hove is also going to give hundreds of young people the chance to work as volunteers.
The four-year ‘Right Here’ project will be led by young people for young people, and will offer extensive opportunities for young people to help build up other young people’s emotional well-being and resilience through positive activities and promoting mental health awareness.
But we grown-ups mustn’t forget that we have a responsibility to encourage young people to be good citizens. We have to listen to them and respond to their concerns.
The Right Here youth mental health project’s portable climbing wall
With council elections happening next May we’re planning a tour of secondary schools and sixth form colleges to talk about why voting is important and how to go about registering to vote.
We’re also looking to take Cabinet meetings out into the city, rather than having them in the town halls, so people can see democracy in action in their own communities.
And one final thought – during his recent visit the world’s greatest skateboarder, Tony Hawk, urged young people here to get involved in plans to regenerate the skate park at the Level, saying: “Local skaters need to get involved in the planning. Go to the council meetings and petition and fundraise if you have to and just be involved.” Thanks, Tony – I couldn’t have put it better myself.
