15 March 2010Celebrating Young People Conference 2010 at The Wildernesse School
This conference was held on Friday 5th February 2010 at The Wildernesse School in Sevenoaks. Young people from eight different schools and several youth organisations came along to take part in workshops, showcase their talents on stage and join in with the first youth conference to be organised by young people for young people.
.jpg "Wildernesse School Council who worked with Sevenoaks District Council to plan the conference from the start")
Students on the School Council at Wildernesse have been working with Sophie Lord, the Council's Youth Development Co-ordinator to plan the conference since September 2009. They have been working together to develop the plans for the event, including deciding that it should involve lots of young people, be interactive and encourage people from different schools to mix and get to know each other.
Young people from more than 8 different schools and organisations took part on the day:
The Wildernesse School The morning conference kicked off with a Oasis track performed by Jonathon and Andrew Preen, students at Wildernesse School and they were followed by a short drama piece to get people thinking about teenage pregnancy. The conference continued throughout the morning with some amazing music and dance performances and interesting presentations from the VSU Befrienders Club in Swanley and young people involved in the development of a new outreach project for the Kenward Trust, helping to raise awareness about drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Highlights from the performances include:
.jpg "Dorton House School sing Sister Act")
Follow this link to see all the photos from the conference!
Next, the audience got to have their say and squash some of the stereotypes often put on groups of young people. Our comperes, Joe and Olivia, worked the crowd to get comments from young people and adults who had voted to agree or disagree with the statements read out, such as 'All young people hanging around in groups at night are bound to be drinking, taking drugs or getting into trouble' (which was widely disagreed with)..jpg "Celebrating Young People conference crowd")
The negative stereotypes of young people, often written about in the media, on TV, in newspapers and online, are a big problem to young people who tend to get lumped in the same category as the minority who are behaving badly and causing trouble. A recent report by the Young Researchers Network found that at least 75% of articles published about young people are negative and it is affecting the way some young people feel about themselves - making them think they should dress differently or change the places they go with friends, because other people, such as the older generation, will feel intimidated. Read more about this report on the Participation works website. Or follow this link to go straight to the report.
Young people can also sign up to the Respect? Campaign that is encouraging young people to speak out on negative media coverage. Find out more about the Respect? Campaign on youthnet.org. You can also sign up to their pledge to counter negative news stories on the Pledge Bank website.
.jpg "It's a Cook Off!")
The main part of the day were the workshops designed by young people.
Healthy Lunchbox Cook Off Challenge
Teams from four schools competed to make an exciting and healthy lunch against the clock. Watched over by leading Cookery School, Cookies Kitchen, the teams made spicy chicken fajitas, fruit kebabs, Caribbean chicken pasta salad and fruit smoothies while an audience looked on and voted for their favourite lunch at the end. Food for thought was provided by Cookies Kitchen at the end of each session with a demo and recipe sheet for everyone to take away.
YvA (Youth versus Adults) Quickfire Interviews
Students were given the chance to grill councillors, local newspaper editors, a local headmaster, policeman, paramedic and a local youth worker in the Youth versus Adults Quickfire Interviews. A series of 2 minute face to face interviews, young people could ask anything and there were some interesting questions and answers. Feedback from adults revealed that they enjoyed the opportunity to talk openly and frankly with young people about their views and ideas, likes and dislikes and young people said they liked that they were in control in this session and that they now know more about some of these key people in the community.
Workshops in the Mix
This was a melting pot of activity in the main hall at Wildernesse School - workshops, an art mural, games, challenges, and video feedback all in one place!
.jpg "A student from Dorton House School makes her mark on our art mural")
Valence School students teaching Table CricketCllr Pat Bosley Sevenoaks District Council Cabinet member with responsibility for young people’s issues, says: "The conference was a fantastic experience, brilliantly organised by Wildernesse pupils. I was privileged to talk with so many enthusiastic, motivated young people who were a credit to their schools. Not only did it highlight the many good things young people are involved in, it gave pupils the opportunity to have their say on important issues face-to-face with influential members of the community and local decision makers.”
Speaking to both young people and adults after the conference it has been a great event and something we would like to do again - working with another group of young people at a school or youth club to design an event to recognise and celebrate the achievements, talents and diversity of young people in the Sevenoaks District.
Statement of Rights
All young people have rights. Read our Statement of Rights for young people (
PDF 78K file details) here.
This is used as a standard at each of our events and during activities organised by the Council.
This is the place to go to find out about things to do and places to go to in Kent. It's an online database that you can search to find things going on in your area or things to do with what you are into. www.togogo.info
Find out about sports and courses running in your area today - you can search by day or area or activity so you'll always find something to do. www.get-active.org
Kent County Council have a dedicated team of youth workers who run youth clubs, do detached youth work on the streets and organise activities, trips and opportunities for young people aged 12 and above living in Kent.
In the Sevenoaks District there are 5 main youth workers, working in Swanley, Edenbridge, Sevenoaks and surrounding villages, Hextable School and New Ash Green and surrounding villages.
To find out more about what is happening in your area go to the Kent Youth Service page on Kent County Council's website.
There may be a locally run youth club running in your town or village that you don't know about. Check out www.togogo.info or follow this link to find out how to contact your local town or Parish Council Clerk who can tell you more.
VSU Youth in Action - a service of Voluntary Action within Kent
VSU Youth in Action is the leading Youth Volunteering Agency in Kent. They work with a variety of other agencies, through schools and local community centres to provide young people (aged 14 to 24 years) with the help they need to become active volunteers.
Whether working in groups or on your own, they can provide transport, out of pocket expenses, equipment, training and advice. Go to the VSU website to find out how to get involved.
