13 JUNE 2006 - 'What's it like living here?' is the theme of a recent innovative consultation of young people in the Harrogate District.  The borough council, working with Connexions York and North Yorkshire, has undertaken this threemonth consultation to find out what's good about being a teenager in the district and what could be improved.

 

The young people involved will be 'rapping' up their message as the exercise concludes on 22 June at an informal 'market place' event being held in the Pavilions, Harrogate.   As well as musical feedback, these young people will be responding in other mediums of their age and they are being encouraged to be as creative as they want.

 

Although the Harrogate district does have an above average elderly population it is also home to 18,000 young people aged between 11 and 18. 

 

Fiona Friday, the council's community engagement officer explains why the council undertook this consultation.  She said:  "We often hear the expression 'hard to reach groups' and this very definitely includes engaging young people.  But they have a right, just as much as their parents, to be involved in developing the shape of their home area.

 

"We have used a variety of techniques, including teenagers' love of anything musical, artistic or technical, to encourage them to tell us what they think about their home towns or villages and how they see the future.  We know that an above average number of young people leave the district after finishing further education and we want to address that. The feedback we get will be used to plan, develop and evaluate the services provided for them locally." 

 

Over 40 young people from various groups will be presenting their feedback on the consultation at this informal event on 22 June.  They will be addressing councillors, council service managers and representatives from partner organisations.  As well as helping to develop the borough council's services for young people, the results will be used to influence the North Yorkshire Children and Young People Plan which was launched in April ENDS

 

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:  The series of consultations have involved young people through participating groups and included Harrogate Young Carers, Pateley Bridge Youth Club, Fairfax Youth Club, Henshaws College, the Young Offending Team, Foundation Housing, care leavers and young people in care, North Yorkshire's Young People's Development Workers and Boroughbridge High School.  It also reached young people excluded from school.