Youth Service

Youth forum

Fequently Asked Questions

It’s an excellent opportunity to express your views and opinions.
It’s an opportunity to make a difference and be a part of decision-making.
It’s lots of fun.
You meet new people and make new friends.
It builds your confidence.
It’s a great opportunity to develop skills and build on experiences that will help in future work, training and education opportunities. Skills include, social skills, presentation and public speaking skills, discussion and debating, organising and chairing events, and many more.

To attend the borough-wide youth forum meetings every two months to represent the young people in your school, college, youth club, or group.
Feedback to those young people on meetings and the work of the forum, and make sure that you gather their opinions on current issues (this could be done by putting info on notice boards, or feeding back at a school council or youth club committee meeting etc).

You could stand for election for one of the cabinet members.
These include Youth Forum Chair and Vice Chair, Secretary and Assistant Secretary,
Treasurer & Fundraising Officer and a Press Officer. The cabinet meets once a month.
You can volunteer to join one of the sub-groups to work on specific topics.
You can attend social events, training opportunities, meetings with Decision-makers and officials, and many other opportunities…

You don’t need to be qualified, trained, experienced, an A-grade student or of a particular age, you just need:
To be able to listen to others and respect what they say (even if you don’t agree),
To be non-judgemental (this means being able to be with, respect and work with people who are different to you),
To be able to voice your opinion and the opinions of other young people that you represent,
To be committed to your youth group/school etc, and to the forum,
To be enthusiastic, and willing to help, to learn and to attend events
To be able to meet new people and have some fun!

Each rep can serve for 2 years.
If the rep has to stand down or chooses to resign for any reason, the school, club or group then arrange for a new rep – this could be the second candidate from the elections.
If a rep fails to attend meetings, they shall be considered to have resigned.

Annual Conference and the Borough-wide Youth Forum Meetings (Every two months)
It is hoped that the allocated member of staff from each service will be able to arrange transport for the reps to the larger meetings.
Cabinet meetings, and Sub-group meetings (Every month)
Where possible, the Forum staff team will transport reps to these meetings. Written consent must be given by the rep’s parent / carer / or guardian