Innovative Young People In Line For National Recognition » Education » 24dash.com

Surpassing 250 other groups in the UK, a group of teenagers from a regeneration area in Liverpool are one of nine national finalists for an award to recognise their campaigning achievements.

South Liverpool Housing’s Junior Board have been shortlisted for the exceptional amount of work they have done to give young people a voice in the Speke & Garston areas of south Liverpool. The first youth Board in any UK housing association, their Youth Conference attracted 200 young people with workshops about how to get a house, careers, teenage pregnancy and ASB. Inspiring other young people to turn their lives around, their Bursary Scheme has enabled over 150 young to bid for cash up to £250 to help further their education, career goals or gain a new skill.

The Change It Awards, organised by national leadership organisation, Common Purpose in partnership with Deutsche Bank, are awarded to young people who have campaigned for change in their community, school or youth organisation.

The judges were impressed with the amount of work the Junior Board have done in south Liverpool and saw the results for themselves when they made a visit to one of their bi-weekly meetings in March earlier this year.

Christine Flanagan, SLH Youth Co-ordination Officer said, “The Junior Board are excellent role models who care about their community and are well- equipped through skills training to improve opportunities for themselves and others. We are delighted that the quality and the impact of their campaigns for young people has been nationally recognised.”

The Junior Board has already been awarded for being a finalist with £250 to spend on their campaigns and are now in the running for £750 if they win at the awards ceremony in London on 14th May 2008.

ENDS

For more information please contact phoebe.rowell@slhgroup.co.uk
0151 285 5636

Notes for Editors:
• South Liverpool Housing Group (SLH) is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) which works solely in the Speke and Garston areas of Liverpool.
• SLH’s Junior Board sets out to give young people a voice in South Liverpool and for their views to be taken into account when making decisions.
• One of the Junior Board is also a representative on the SLH Board making sure that young people’s voice is listened to at the highest decision making level in SLH.
• The Junior Board has seen several young people’s lives dramatically turn around as a result of training and the Bursary Scheme. One teenager’s relationship with her family broke down, so she was living on the streets. After the Junior Board provided training and the qualifications which, along with the commitment she showed, gained her entry into college. She now manages her own tenancy and now helps other young homeless people by volunteering. One promising singer was awarded money to buy equipment and another young person was able to study hairdressing at college after being given finances for specialist tools.
• CHANGEit is a collaboration between Common Purpose and Deutsche Bank. It has been designed to recognise the achievements and ambitions of young people, between the ages of 11-18, who want to make a difference and speak out about issues that they care about.
• For more information - www.changeit.org.uk