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The Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum was conceived by two borough councillors noticed a lack of representation from young people at the Community Forums. With the idea of setting up a youth forum in the Borough, they began a consultation with sixth formers in the Borough about the issues affecting them. The Youth Support and Development Service and Democratic Services then arranged a conference, so these young people could put their issues to council members and departments. The conference also involved young people deciding on what a youth forum for the Borough would look like. Several interested young people formed a steering group to finalise what the forum should look like and decide on an election process, the name and who was eligible to be a member.
The Forum helps to give the young people the opportunity to express their views, influence their community and take responsibility for decisions that affect their lives. It is made up of young men and young women from schools and the various partnership agencies in the Borough. Young people nominated themselves, an election was held, and the BAD Youth Forum was launched during Local Democracy Week. Those elected to the forum are in term for one year. Nothing is done in the Forum without consulting the appropriate young people and the work of the Forum is on going both in and out of school time. Group work is undertaken to stimulate discussions and enable young people to feel comfortable to express their views and those of their peers they consult with. Young people can gain transferable skills by participating in the Forum, including self-confidence, communication skills, negotiating, decision-making, time management, self-organisation, self-esteem and taking on responsibilities.
The young people have now chosen to split in to sub groups to work on certain issues i.e. health, education, social services, crime and safety and youth facilities. In addition, two young people have been elected to the UK Youth Parliament and 2 young people on the Youth Board for London East Connexions Partnership. The organisations working in partnership to maintain the forum are the two Councillors, the Youth Support Development Service, Democratic Services, all of the Borough secondary schools, the Pupil Referral Unit, Barking and Dagenham Training Services, Barking College, the Horizon Project for asylum seekers, Social Services, the Disablement Association and the Young Carers of Barking and Dagenham. To celebrate the work of the Forum, young peoples achievements are regularly published in the local press and community magazine The Citizen. In addition, partnership agencies are kept up to date with young peoples achievements through meeting minutes. |
Initiatives
Connexions Strategy
United Nations Observances and charity campaigning days
Youth Support and Development Service Action Plan
Models
Community Forums
London East Connexions Partnership |
