What We Do
POLITICIANS CHALLENGED BY YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE PROVINCE
- Date: 28 November, 2011
- Centre: Head Office
More than 40 young people from Bytes centres from across Northern Ireland attended an event in Stormont recently to tackle politicians on issues that matter most to them
The event was organised to give young people from the project the opportunity to have their voices heard directly by those at the forefront of making the decisions that affect them and to encourage them to take a more active role in their community.
Politicians were quizzed on the limited educational and training opportunities available to young people in the province and about the high youth unemployment rate. The group also challenged MLAs to deal with the inadequate support currently available to help those with mental health problems, the rising issue of homelessness amongst young people and the lack of social housing, in addition to causes for anti-social behaviour and interface rioting.
The cross-party panel was made up of eight MLAs and one member Phillip Flanagan, the youngest MLA in the Assembly, was very impressed with the attendees and their attitudes towards change and making a difference. He said, “This event was a great experience not just for all the young people attending but also for all the MLAs involved. The confidence and capacity of the young people in bringing pertinent, relevant and at times difficult questions to the MLAs is a huge indication of their ability as leaders in our communities.”