Youth Council
Activities
Influencing the Olympic vision and
legacy.
The Young Mayor and Youth Council met with the Newham
2012 Unit and representatives from the London Organising Committee
of the 2012 Games. They received a presentation from LOCOG and
there was extensive discussion following the session.
The Young Mayor organised a follow up opportunity to consult on the
look, feel, design - and accessibility to young people - of the
Olympic Aquatics Centre and Leisure Pool. The findings from this
consultation have been formally submitted to the Olympic Delivery
Authority and the London Development Agency to inform their
decision-making. This summary of young people's views will also be
presented to the Aquatics Centre architects.
Following the initial meeting, Newham 2012 Unit have responded
by:
- Providing more information to local young people on Youth
Ambassadors scheme, work experience and volunteering
opportunities
- Identifying further opportunities for Newham's young
people to influence the Olympic and Paralympic Legacy
- Strengthening the levels of existing and planned
publicity delivered to young people via schools and community
groups
The 2012 Unit and LOCOG have both committed to closing the feedback
loop for the Youth Council by reporting back to them on progress
during the year.
Directing funds for local young people
Newham's Young Mayor and Youth Council make decisions on how the
Youth Opportunity and Youth Capital Funds are spent - delivering
things to do and places to go for young people across the borough.
They have agreed to allocate money to a series of initiatives which
include:
- Outdoor education projects
- Active citizenship work
- Small 'Go For It' grants
The Young Mayor is leading an application process which receives a
series of bids that the Youth Council makes judgements about based
upon pre-agreed criteria developed by young people.
In Newham we are employing a participatory budgeting approach led
by the Young Mayor - directly involving young people across the
borough in making decisions about the Youth Opportunity Fund via a
large community event. This demonstrates for young people the
ability of the Young Mayor to influence beyond their own office and
to create opportunities for all young people to make community
decisions.
This leadership by the Young Mayor provides a direct and democratic
line of accountability for young people - from their vote in a
ballot box to how money is spent for them locally.