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Consultation Archive
Consultation Work 2002 - 2004
The Shadow Council is often approached by organisations and individuals seeking the views of young people.
Consulting organisations should contact the office.
Opportunities are detailed to all Shadow Councillors in the agenda and minutes of the next meeting
Shadow Councillors report back to the full council in the following meeting.
'Teen Zone'
‘Teen Zone’ is an area at the broadmeadow (beside the Lakeland Fotum) in Enniskillen aimed at teenagers. It was provided by Fermanagh District Council and includes playpark type slides and swings in teenage sizes, hang out areas and a basketball and football play area. Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council helped distribute the questionnaires developed by consultation company Ferguson McIlveen and attended a consultation with this company.
FSYC were then invited to have a look at the initial plans and to give feedback to Robert Gibson, Director of Environmental Services. The park was opened in April 2004 and has proved a huge success. One of the Shadow Councillors had the opportunity to be interviewed for a radio programme direct from ‘Teen Zone’
Bill od Rights
FSYC have been involved in campaigning for the rights of children and young people to be included in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland for over two years.
A group of seven young people from FSYC travelled to Belfast to take part in an event entitled ‘Pay the Bill, you owe it to us’. At this event the Human Rights Commission for Northern Ireland were handed a list of 180 signatures representing 18,000 people in Northern Ireland who support the rights of children and young people being included in a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
At the moment, children and young people have no formal rights. The UN Convention on the rights of the child is an excellent document but it is not enforceable and will not stand up in court. The rights we would like to see covered are adequate health care, education and housing, the right to be taught your rights and to have your say in matters that effect you.
The BBC filmed FSYC in action at one of their meetings and interviewed members on the rights of young people. This footage was used on the news on the day of the event.
A Shared Future
Did you know that the government are planning a 25 year strategy for Northern Ireland? They even produced a booklet called ‘A Shared Future’ and asked groups to consult and tell the government what people would like to see in Northern Ireland in the next 25 years.
FSYC attended 2 consultations, the Fermanagh District Council event at which S Cllr Emma Smyth gave a speech on what sort of future young people want and an event in Belfast run by YouthNet and Future Voices.
FDC Pricing Policy
FSYC attended a consultation with Fermanagh District Council on their pricing policy and customer care policy in FDC venues such as the Lakeland Forum, Bawnacre Centre and Castle Park Centre. FDC expressed that they will continue to offer discounts to young people between the times of 3.30 and 5.30 pm on week days.
They feel however that this has an adverse effect on over 18’s. FSYC suggested expanding the offer to over 18’s with a valid student card. We also suggested types of activities young people would like to see in these venues, such as Box-ercise, salsa dancing, pool parties, tampolining.
Domestic Violence
A group of Shadow Councillors and Delegates recently took part in a consultation on Domestic Violence. The government published a document called 'Tackling Violence at Home' and the questions for the consultation arose out of this.
The young people answered questions on areas such as; the most effective ways of teaching young people about domestic violence, the most effective ways of raising awareness about domestic violence and the adequacy of existing support services for young people affected by domestic violence.
For more information, contact Fermanagh Women's Aid on 028 6632 8898.
Suspension and Expulsion
FSYC participated in a consultation about suspension and expulsion procedures in schools hosted by Damien Knipe of St Mary’s College, Belfast.
Participants were asked how they think different behaviours should be dealt with, for example not doing homework, untidy uniform, bad time-keeping, violent behaviour and bullying. Damien then asked the group how they are informed by schools of rules and regulations, for example in homework diaries or posters.
The topic then turned to how expulsions and suspensions should be dealt with, who should be informed, who should be involved, how long a suspension should last and how much support the school should offer during the suspension
It was a very interesting consultation and an excellent opportunity for young people to have a say in matters that effect them.
Postgraduate Study
A postgraduate student doing some research into participation in rural areas carried out questionnaires and a focus group with members of FSYC.
The student was interested in finding out why the Shadow Councillors and Delegates had got involved in FSYC and how they were enjoying and engaging with the project. Questions also included the support from schools, the community and other organisations.
This provided a wealth of information for the student and FSYC were glad to be a case study in such an interesting project.
General Consumer Council
The Shadow Youth Council have carried out three pieces of consultation work for the General Consumer Council. The first was to write a foreword for a report providing findings on some work relating to consumer skills and young people.
The group then looked at the GCC website and provided details of how it could be improved to interest young people and what information young people would like to see on it.
The last consultation involved FSYC looking at the General Consumer Council’s brochure and providing feedback on the content and format which would most appeal to young people, e.g. using postcard style or fold out brochures, brightly coloured graphics, badges, stickers, beer mats etc.
Save the Children Practice Guide
Save the Children have been one of the major funders of Fermanagh Shadow Youth Council since it began in 1998 and fully support the concept of shadow youth councils.
They have decided to commission a booklet which will act as a practice guide for councils and other bodies wishing to set up shadow youth councils. As FSYC was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and is funded by Save the Children, we are being used as a case study in the guide.
The Project Worker, Shadow Councillors, Delegates, teachers, the Management Committee and Fermanagh District Council staff have all been involved in focus groups, questionnaires and discussions with Jane Field, the consultant writing the guide. The guide will look at how FSYC were set up, how it functions and the projects the young people have been involved in.
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