Information on Loughborough

Childrens champion to meet young people in Loughborough

Posted on 06/11/2008

A national childrens champion is visiting an award-winning youth group in Loughborough.

Childrens Commissioner Sir Al Aynsley-Green will be meeting young people involved with the County Councils Dreamers project this Friday (7th).

Dreamers is a refugee and asylum-seeking support group working with around 100 young people whose homelands include Iraq, Iran, Syria, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Albania and Kosovo.

The group aims to to break down barriers as well as help them learn new skills and knowledge to rebuild themselves.

The project - the only council-run group of its kind in the country, has won many awards including a BT Seen and Heard award and a Philip Lawrence award. Dreamers is also shortlisted for the Children and Young People Now Youth Work 2008 award.

The visit will enable Sir Al Aynsley-Green to listen to the young peoples experiences and coincides with national 11 MILLION Takeover Day, when children and young people get the chance to work alongside adults to make a change.

Sir Al Aynsley-Green said: "I am really looking forward to hearing from the children and young people at the Dreamers project.  At my organisation 11 MILLION we are working hard to secure a better deal for asylum seeking children and to ensure that they have access to fair procedures and an acceptable level of care and support while in the UK."

Peter Osborne, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Youth Services, said: "Dreamers is a unique project which gives young people some power, a chance to have a voice and opportunities to use it.  It aims to build a better community and understanding about refugees and asylum seekers and Im delighted that Sir Al Aynsley-Green has chosen to visit."

Notes:

Dreamers started in 2002 and offers informal educational activities, workshops and experiences that meet the needs of the young people aged between 11 and 25. This includes life skills, dealing with anger and bereavement and English language skills.

Dreamers has provided its members with a voice not just in the local community but nationally with MPs and leaders of national organisations such as the UN Ambassador for Refugees in the UK.

The project has had stalls at community events providing the real facts about refugees and asylum seekers. Dreamers youth workers have visited schools and youth projects to talk with teenagers about asylum.

The Childrens Commissioner is a position created by the Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice for all children and young people in England.

11 MILLION, formerly the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, supports the 11million children and young people in England to have their voices heard. The Children’s Commissioner for England was established under The Children Act 2004 to be the independent voice of children and young people and to champion their interests and bring their concerns and views to the national arena.  For more information go to www.11MILLION.org.uk.

Interviews:

To arrange interviews with Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Ivan Ould or County Council officers, please contact the Press Office on 0116 305 6274.

Please note we cannot arrange photo opportunities or interviews with the young people.