Almost 100 young people and youth work practitioners packed into South Essex College to debate the policy issues that affected them, following the release of YMCA survey.
The event was organised by Southend YMCA following its Youth Survey 2015. This survey invited local young people to have their say on the political issues they thought mattered most. It was completed by more than 4,000 people.
Among the questions asked were what problems young people faced and how many young people felt they were engaged in politics. Results showed that 72% of young people who answered the survey were not interested in politics while 36% said health and wellbeing issues worried them most in Southend.
The two-hour debate, on Thursday 17 September, saw audience members getting involved once again to talk over the survey results and pose further questions to an expert panel.
Southend YMCA resident, Claire Stringer, was one young person who attended the event.
Claire moved into YMCA accommodation in January 2014 after a fallout with her family. After being supported by YMCA’s Motivate project, she says she has come on leaps and bounds in terms of getting a career and building her self-confidence.
She said: “This event is really important for young people to be able to have their say and get their voices heard.
“The issues that are being discussed are things that affect me like jobs and housing benefit cuts.”
Last night’s panel consisted of Councillor Ron Woodley, Leader of Southend Borough Council; Councillor Anne Jones; Councillor Nigel Folkard; Dr Andrea Atherton; Frank Fishenden, Mangetout business owner and young entrepreneur; Angela O’ Donoghue, Principal of South Essex College; and John Bastin Southend YMCA Community Health and Wellbeing Manager.
The panel was chaired by Liam Preston, Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer at YMCA England.
Event organiser Mike Bromfield, from Southend YMCA’s Motivate project, said: “We are delighted at how the event went.
“We are passionate at Southend YMCA about giving young people a real voice in politics and our Youth Survey combined with this event has allowed us to do this.
“But more importantly, it has also raised a debate about what matters most to young people in South East Essex. Only by realising the issues at hand can organisations like YMCA offer support where it is needed.”
For more information and findings on Southend YMCA’s Youth Survey, visit www.southendymca.org.uk/vipresults and share your thoughts with them on twitter @SouthendYMCA, including #YMCAVIP.