
live and interactive debate open to all young
people and professionals:
On Thursday 17th September Southend YMCA are hosting an event called ‘Voices Influencing Policies’ at South Essex College in The Pod at 7pm. Details of how to book, if you would like to attend, are below.
We’ll have 200 young people and youth professionals from youth services, schools and colleges in attendance, councillors, policy makers as well as voting buttons for all audience members create live polls on the night.
The event is will see the results of a survey Southend YMCA conducted published for the first time that was filled out by over 4,000 11-18 year olds in Southend, Rochford District and Castle Point.
There will also be an expert panel for young people to put questions to, a chance for networking, to discuss the results, find solutions and refreshments will be provided.
The survey is the largest of its kind in South Essex that gauges the views and opinions of young people, we now wants to discuss the findings and possible solutions.
The survey asked a mix of open, closed, rated and multiple choice questions all of which have been compiled and analysed in partnership with the YMCA George Williams College.
Of the 4,000 we have surveyed, the headlines we have discovered thus far include:
- In an open ended question, 36% of all young people surveyed are concerned with issues around Health & Wellbeing, and 33% around Education & Work Prospects.
- Over 1/3 of all respondents don't know where to access Information, Advice and Guidance, with just under this amount not feeling comfortable to access it.
- 21% of young people 'strongly disagree' or 'disagree' that they have confidence within themselves.
- Finally, 72% of all young people we surveyed, are not interested in politics.
The panel consists of Councillor Ron Woodley, Leader of Southend Borough Council along with a panel of professionals with expertise in the top 5 areas of concern highlighted in our survey. Representing the topic of Health & Well Being will be Director of Public Health, Dr Andrea Atherton alongside South Essex College Principle, Angela O' Donoghue for Education & Employment prospects.
Joining them will be Frank Fishenden, co-owner of Mangetout restaurant, a young entrepreneur and employer representing the topic of Money, and finally for Family & Relationships the Children & Family Portfolio holder for Southend Councillor Anne Jones.
Free places can be booked www.southendymca.org.uk/viplaunch via the Eventbrite tool.
For more information email: motivate@southendymca.org.uk or call 01702 301301 and speaking to Mike Bromfield or Sacha Edwards.