Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
May 2012Apr 2012
Mar 2012
Feb 2012
Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Young people grill local decision makers in Lougborough
Posted on 08/02/2012
newsdesk
POLICE and Council bosses were grilled by youngsters at Charnwood Youth Council’s second annual Big Charnwood Youth Conference.
Young people from schools, communities and youth groups across the borough fired questions at the Question Time panel members at Loughborough Town Hall.
Panelists included Loughborough’s police commander, Inspector Johnny Monks, Council Cabinet members Hilary Fryer and David Snartt and Labour Group Leader Jewel Miah who were quizzed over the removal of the Education Maintenance Allowance, empty homes, the summer disturbances and youth unemployment.
The entire February 1 event, organised by the Youth Council, Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council was broadcast live online for the first time ever via Charnwood Borough Council’s Twitter feed @CharnwoodBC #bigyouth.
Luke St Denis, Charnwood Youth Council’s Question Time panel chairman, said: “Big Charnwood Youth Conference went down a storm. It was excellent seeing the local schools all get together to ask our panel of guests questions about the issues that are affecting everyday life for the young people and to listen to a direct response from guests.
“The Charnwood Youth Council will now take the questions from the conference and put them into action resulting in positive changes around Charnwood.”
Inspector Monks told youth councillors his officers were full of praise for the majority of young people in Charnwood who they found to be courteous and respectful.
He said: “What a great bunch of young people. We should do more events like the Question Time panel. Hopefully everyone here has come away with some key messages today. Breaking down barriers is really important to me.
“Social media such as Twitter is a good way for organisations like ours to engage with young people. Most police officers are Tweeting now.”
In her opening speech, Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan urged young people to raise issues with her both online and in person. The youngsters did just that - completing giant postcards addressed to Charnwood Youth Council. These will be used to help inform officials of their priority issues for progress.
The day ended with a closing speech from Mayor of Charnwood Councillor Bernard Burr and resulted in a flurry of young people signing up to join Charnwood Youth Council.
Councillor David Snartt, the Council’s Cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “This type of event was a wonderful opportunity for us to listen to the views of young people from all over Charnwood. The opinions of our younger residents are very important to us and this will help us to continue acting upon them.”
Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet member for the children and young people's service, said: "It's important we listen to young people and groups such as Charnwood Youth Council enable them to shape decisions and make their voices heard. The conference was a fun, interactive event where important issues were debated."