This made me smile - I called in to our local shop tonight. It was dark and as I got to the shop there was a gang of young people hanging around - some of them sat on a grass embankment next to the shop, a couple by the doorway and a couple around a motorcycle.

As I got close one of the young people dashed inside the shop and when I entered was running around it. As he passed me by he said “don’t worry he’ll be here in a  minute”, shortly after the shop assistant appeared and apologised because he’d been out the back clearing boxes. As I left the shop the lad that had gone in to find the assistant held the door open for me - I thanked him and left.

It made me smile because like most people on getting to the shop I wondered what they were all up to - of course most probably nothing at all - just hanging around where theres some light while a couple tinkered with the motorbike, and as it seemed looking out for the shop too.

It reminded me of the Buzz Off campaign against mosquito devices and the Downing Steet E-Petition which only got a pretty rubbish 149 supporters. Presumably the local shop here won’t be installing any anyway!

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Tags: campaign, environment, Society & Issues

75% of young people involved in the UK Youth Parliament apparently believe the planet can only survive for another 50 years in its current state. (Taken from a survey held at their ‘annual sitting’.)

We’ve done bits of work with various factions of the UK Youth Parliament but I’ve never been involved with any of their annual sittings - I would expect though that given these are young people in a role to represent the views and concerns of other young people, that when they do meet to discuss such important issues they get the support of experts in the topics they discuss. So presumably when discussing environmental attitudes they were able to grill experts about what those risks are and to ask fundamental questions like is the planet really in danger? or is it that the planet will probably survive but the human race may not, and so on.

Assuming this is the case isn’t it a bit surprising that in the survey the person who apparently the UKYP members feel has the most power to influence young people regarding climate change is………………. David Beckham?!

Now in terms of media influence it may still be understandable to choose a high profile celebrity - but I can’t help but wonder whether theres a responsibility here for young people representing others to be able to take their inspiration from experts in the relevant fields - and to then inform other young people about who those experts are so that they base their decisions/opinions on credible information, not media puppets.

You can see more about the UKYP Annual Sitting on their website

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Tags: campaign, environment, Participation & Citizenship, policy, politics, Society & Issues, youth work

Here’s a couple of films from the brilliantly talented people at Bold Creative…..

The first is  ‘Dillons Story’ - a young boy living in poverty.

The second is ‘It Ain’t Disneyland’ - quite an inspiring story about young people in Tower Hamlets taking the lead in trying to rebuild their community.

You can see more of their stuff over on their site. I hope they do more animations soon!

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Tags: environment, film, poverty

Film with the young people from Mullaghmatt Youth House over in Monaghan, Ireland, who take us a on a tour of the local area and interview some local residents about local issues and their feelings about the youth house.

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Film from the recent training with Donegal Youth Council in Ireland

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Short film from the training with 4Youth held in Exeter who are planning o undertake a litter pick. More details about the group are here

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Tags: environment, events, film

4Youth are a group based in South Ward Neighbourhood, Weston-super-Mare
They are currently in the process of developing a local youth forum that can help influence changes in the community. The local area has been awarded £3.7 million to improve quality of life for local residents and they would like young people to (more…)

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Tags: environment, events

Heres a few pics from the cycle across Wales. We cycled roughly 150 miles taking a windy route from Chester to Anglesey. Along the way we stayed at campsites in Hendre (near Mold), Towyn, Penmaenmawr, Bangor and finally Red Wharf Bay.

The money we raise will be used to support the work YoMo are doing overseas - currently (more…)

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