YOUNG people from across Bucks were given the chance to have their say on issues affecting their lives during a conference at the Green Park Centre in Aston Clinton last Thursday.
In Bucks, 26 per cent of the population is under the age of 18, but is left without the vote, or the chance to take part in surveys or referendums.
To counter this, a conference was organised by the Bucks Children and Young People’s Trust, in part
nership with the National Youth Agency, where 100 young people aged between 11 and 18 met with representatives of a number of organisations for young people.
Ed Mallam, from Children and Young People’s Services at Buckinghamshire County Council, explained why this conference is so important: “We have some excellent examples of participation work in Buckinghamshire, but we need to improve on these. This is a chance for young people, and those that work with them, to achieve this together. Children and young people have great ideas and it is vital that we make the most of these. One of the questions the conference will be addressing is ‘why bother with enabling children and young people’s participation’. A logical response would be to say that a good business will always address the needs of customers – and why should services for children and young people be any different? Acting on children and young people’s views has been shown to enhance a young person’s sense of citizenship and social inclusion – a topical subject at present.”
