Policy and Internal Motions Booklet (Stage 1)

Policy and Internal
Motions Booklet
(Stage 1)
Please keep this document safe, you will need it to participate in BYC’s
Annual Council Meeting 2014. If you need this document in another format
contact events@byc.org.uk or on 020 7250 8373.
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This document contains all of the motions that BYC member organisations have submitted for
debate at the Annual Council Meeting 2014. The motions submitted are (in alphabetical
member order)
No
1
2
3
4
5
BYC Member
Barnsley Youth Council
BYC Board
BYC Board
Girlguiding
Girlguiding
6
7
8
9
10
Harrow Youth Parliament
Harrow Youth Parliament
Lewisham Young Mayor
Methodist Children and Youth
National Council for Voluntary Youth
Services
11 National Council for Voluntary Youth
Services
12 National Federation of Young
Famers’ Clubs
13 National Federation of Young
Famers’ Clubs
14 St John Ambulance
15 The Scout Association
16 The Scout Association
17 The Scout Association
18
19
20
21
UNISON
Wandsworth Youth Council
Wandsworth Youth Council
Youth Action Kouncil
Policy motion name
Equal Opportunities for Looked after young people
European Youth Participation
Post 2015 International Development
Better sex and relationships education at school
Better regulation of the media and the stereotypes
young people see
Sustainable Renewable Energy Projects
Facebook to be Monitored More Frequently
Youth and Development in the Commonwealth
Training in Mental Health
Social Action for All
Public Service Engagement
Mental Health Awareness
That it should be mandatory that all primary school
children have a farm visit supported by learning
resources in increase Field to Fork education in
schools
Get first aid in schools
Supporting “Project Wild Thing” and reconnecting
children with nature
Support increased collaboration between formal and
non-formal education providers
Supporting youth representation and consideration at
all levels of governance
Living Wage
Police and Young People
Improving Mental Health
Engagement in Physical Activity
Amendments to Motions and BYC Youth Manifesto
Member organisations may submit amendments to motions and the current Youth Manifesto.
The deadline for amendments to motions and Youth Manifesto is by 5pm on Thursday 14th
August 2014. Information on to do this can be found here:
http://www.byc.org.uk/members/annual-council-meeting-2014/key-documents-2014.aspx
If you have any questions about any aspect of this process or any part of the Annual Council
Meeting please contact David Clark, on 020 7250 8367 or david.clark@byc.org.uk
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Policy Motions (in alphabetical member order)
Motion No
1
BYC Member
Organisation
Barnsley Youth Council
Motion name
Equal Opportunities for Looked After Young People
BYC believes that all looked after young people should have the same standard of welfare
as non-looked after children. We believe that just because a young person is in the care of a
local authority that they should be entitled to the same opportunities as non-looked after
young people. Whilst this is supported by Section 22 of the Children Act 1989, it is crucial
that Local Authorities are continually reminded by representations of young people that
looked after young people must be given the same opportunities as non-looked after young
people.
Text to be inserted in the manifesto:
“The British Youth Council believes that all looked after young people should have the same
standard of welfare as non-looked after children. This means everything from ensuring
access to a computer and other educational resources, to enabling young people to take part
in a range of sporting, leisure, play and other physical activities.”
Motion No
2
BYC Member
Organisation
BYC Board
Motion name
European Youth Participation

David Cameron has proposed a referendum on the UK’s membership of the
European Union, and with pressure on all parties to have a referendum, it is likely to
happen at some point in the future. The Conservative Party are proposing a
referendum if elected in the general election 2015.

The referendum offers a simple vote on whether we stay in or leave the European
Union, however there are proposals for reform of the EU that could benefit the UK and
Europe which may be explored before an in/out vote.
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
A low proportion of young people voted in the European Parliament elections, with
many people telling us that they didn’t feel they knew enough about European politics
to take part, and do not understand the social, political and economic connections
between Europe and the UK.

BYC does not take a position on whether the UK should be in or out of the EU, but
wants to support informed debate about Europe that engages young people in a
meaningful way.
“BYC believes that young people should be supported through specific programmes to
participate in discussions on the future of EU-UK Relations and on European Union reform.
European and global citizenship should be a core part of school curricula. There should also
be more support for and recognition of European and global youth work in the UK,
particularly support for local initiatives that connect European affairs and young people’s
everyday lives.
We believe that 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote in any European referenda in the
UK. Young people are the future of Europe and should be engaged in all negotiations.”
Motion No
3
BYC Member
Organisation
BYC Board
Motion name
Post 2015 International Development

In 2000 world leaders agreed the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) – a set of
8 global priorities for international development, including on poverty, maternal health,
education and HIV/AIDS.

The MDGs expire in 2015 and negotiations are currently underway to replace them.

There is a lot of data collected to monitor progress towards the global goals, however
much of the data is not broken down by age and there is not much specific data on
youth participation and empowerment.
“We believe that inclusive governance and the protection of freedoms and rights should
underpin all development initiatives and be a key part of any future development framework.
Young people should be supported to claim their rights and participate in local and national
decision-making, where necessary taking special measures to enable marginalised young
people to part in democratic processes.
We believe that there needs to be more and better data collected and made available on
civic and civil participation, including on the participation of young people. We believe that all
global development data, including the data to be collected in post 2015 development goals,
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should be disaggregated by age and that there should be data available for different age
groups, for example 18 – 24, 16 – 18 and 14-16. This data will ensure that we can effectively
monitor youth development across all development goals, including health, education, rights,
participation and inclusion, poverty, and employment.”
Motion No
4
BYC Member
Organisation
Girlguiding
Motion name
Better sex and relationships education at school
The British Youth Council is in an ideal position to campaign to address the inadequacies in
sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools, particularly the lack of focus on healthy
relationships and on their online engagement. Girlguiding wants the BYC to adopt a new
position on improving SRE in UK schools so that it covers topics relevant to young people’s
lives today and for this to be a statutory entitlement for all young people.
SRE for young people in UK schools is currently patchy and inconsistent. It doesn't inform
young people enough about healthy relationships, often leaving them to negotiate
widespread challenges such as coercive or controlling behaviour in relationships and
everyday sexism with little support. Girlguiding’s 2013 Girls’ Attitudes Survey reveals that
55% of girls and young women feel that sex education at school does not focus enough on
relationships, and boys feel this too. Young people have repeatedly said that the SRE they
receive is inadequate. For example, 28% have described their school SRE as ‘bad’ or ‘very
bad’ (2011 Sex Education Forum).
Education is one of the key channels that should be used to address the wide range of
issues associated to sex and relationships today, including LGBTQ issues and gender
equality. Young people need a safe space to ask questions and be educated and
empowered to make their own, well informed decisions. There is a need for an education
promoting a critical awareness of the different attitudes and views on sex and relationships
within society, such as peer norms and double standards between girls and boys. We
believe this should be a statutory entitlement for every young person and monitored to
ensure the teaching is high quality and comprehensive. The BYC must advocate for an
education that allows young people to question, reflect on and challenge where they see the
need, the portrayals they encounter in the media, among their peers and in their
communities, on the way to making their own empowered and informed decisions.
Motion No
5
BYC Member
Organisation
Girlguiding
Motion name
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Better regulation of the media and the stereotypes young people see
Sexist objectification and narrow, stereotyped representations of girls and women in the
media are pervasive and affect both girls’ and boys’ attitudes, behaviour and wellbeing.
Girlguiding wants the BYC to call on Government to prove it takes these issues seriously by
involving young people in developing robust policy responses to tackle sexist
representations in the media.
Girlguiding’s research has consistently demonstrated that the way women are represented
and criticised in the media undermines girls’ and young women’s self-confidence and
wellbeing. 87% girls and young women aged 11-21 think that women are judged more on
their appearance than on their ability. 80% think there is too much discussion of women’s
weight in the media. 72% say that to some extent pictures that shame celebrities make them
anxious about their own appearance. Half of girls say they would like to look more like girls
and women they see in the media (49%) and this rises to 76% among those who report
being unhappy with the way they look.
The unrealistic and heavily edited images which are shown to young people through
magazines, television and other media are detrimental to self-confidence, with serious
knock-on effects. For example, 50 per cent of 16- to 21-year-old girls would consider having
surgery to change the way they look and one in five say they have tried a diet after hearing a
celebrity using it.
Girlguiding’s data focuses on girls and young women but this issue is not specific to one
gender, or to any one group within society, it affects all young people. It’s important that the
British Youth Council, as the leading voice of the country’s young people, stands up to call
for the political leadership to lead on this complex and important issue and make real
change.
Motion No
6
BYC Member
Organisation
Harrow Youth Parliament
Motion name
Sustainable renewable energy projects
HYP has voted for the BYC policy to include promotion and support for sustainable
renewable energy projects. Specifically for the Solar Roadways project in America. There
has already been a lot of support through the website indigogo, however we are more
concerned with spreading awareness of this project. There is a lot of stigma around
renewable energy that is effective and efficient, however this technology actually works.
They have built prototypes and they work. Even at a 15% efficiency level, solar panelled
roads could generate 3x as much energy as the US currently uses with oil, gas, coal, nuclear
and everything else combined. This could result in an unrivalled supply of energy to power
the US, the UK and potentially Europe. If this supply of energy was to be applied in sunny
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European climates such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and then combined with other developed
renewable sources suited to the climates of each country (such as wind farms in the UK), a
network could be created where these countries combine their sustainable energy sources
and delivers the supplies where needed, we could globalise an eco-friendly energy network.
However, if this is going to happen, there needs to be a mainstream focus on the potential of
renewable energy. The mainstream media hardly mentions the renewable energy industry
and there is almost no mention in the news of these incredible developments.
With all of the BYC members, including Youth Parliaments and their members, and our
organisations wide ranging influence in politics and media, we could give this the
mainstream attention that it needs in order for the world to make its first significant steps to
changing the energy industry.
Motion No
7
BYC Member
Organisation
Harrow Youth Parliament
Motion name
Facebook to be monitored more frequently
It is a travesty to see the public misusing Facebook to either promote alcohol and drugs, or
to cyberbully people through posting unnecessary comments on their public page. By
publicising alcohol and drugs on Facebook, more people are being drawn to the idea of
taking these substances. There have been articles showing how the influence of Facebook
has resulted in people dying and families being torn apart. If people want this to stop, then
they should pay close attention to what people are saying to each other on this social
network site. Furthermore, cyberbullying has always been a big issue which has never fully
been resolved. If the public messages were closely monitored, we could prevent people from
widely humiliating, and creating false accusations online. People can sometimes forget how
dangerous Facebook can be to people.
Text to be inserted into the manifesto:
“BYC feels that Facebook needs to be closely monitored more frequently, due to recent
misuse of Facebook. There have been people publicly influencing others towards drugs and
alcohol. Cyberbullying has also affected people on Facebook this year especially through
Instant Messages, and public ‘hate pages’ and comments made.
By promoting alcohol and drugs on this social network site, many teenagers and young
adults have resulted in losing their lives due to the influence of alcohol and drugs on
Facebook. People should monitor more closely what is being said so that Facebook can
delete messages before viewed, and ban people who start the illegal posts. Unless
Facebook implements strategies to eradicate this behaviour, it is possible that more deaths
could occur.
Furthermore, the use of public posts to promote hate and bullying campaigns, to include
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spreading rumours about people and allowing others to comment and form a ‘Hate Page’
against them, can affect people negatively. This can have an extremely detrimental effect
on the victim and could push them to the extreme to ultimately end their own life. With the
comments being public messages, teenagers are also able to view comments made by
adults. Undisputedly, these people could be viewed as role models and lead by the wrong
example, using their age to influence others. If there were strategies implemented to help
resolve these issues, Facebook would become a safer environment for teenagers to
experience.”
Motion No
8
BYC Member
Organisation
Lewisham Young Mayor
Motion name
Youth and Development in the Commonwealth
 The Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organisation of 53 countries (mostly those
who were part of the former British Empire)
 In 2013 all Commonwealth governments agreed a new Commonwealth Charter which is
a commitment to supporting human rights, democracy and good governance.
Commonwealth countries have also agreed a plan of action on youth which commits
them to supporting youth participation.
 However, across the Commonwealth there is still much to be done to make this a reality.
For example, in 40 countries homosexuality is still a criminal offense and in some
countries it is punishable by death.
In 2013 a new youth-led Commonwealth Youth Council was launched which will give young
people a platform and a stronger voice to shape the future of the Commonwealth.
Text to be inserted into the manifesto:
“The British Youth Council believes that young people are key to developing the
Commonwealth in line with the Commonwealth Charter, which promotes democracy, human
rights and good governance. As such young people need to be supported and enabled to
hold both their own Governments and Commonwealth Governments to account in
implementing the spirit and principles of the Charter.”
Motion No
9
BYC Member
Organisation
Methodist Children and Youth
Motion name
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Training in Mental Health
With the increased numbers of young people suffering with mental illness, we believe that it
is important that those who work with children and young people should be properly trained
in how to support those with mental health issues. We feel that training in mental health is
vital as it will give tools to those who are responsible for children and young people to
recognise and help those suffering, and hopefully raise awareness of the problems facing
them.
A particular issue facing young people is self-harm, recent figures show that 1 in 12 young
people have self-harmed, and that is only an estimate as many of those who have will not
have come forward. With proper training many of those who work with children and young
people can help to open a healthy dialogue about self-harm and mental health more
generally, helping to fight stigma and increase support for those who need it.
BYC believes that its membership organisations should actively work to ensure that all
people employed as children and youth workers should undergo training on mental health
issues affecting young people.
Motion No
10
BYC Member
Organisation
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
Motion name
Social Action for All
BYC believes that the campaign for social action in local communities across the UK should
just not be a passing phase, but rather have a lasting impact for young people to benefit the
chances they have in their own lives, as well as that of other people who will be positively
impacted because of their activities and the time that they have voluntarily given. The ‘Step
Up To Serve’ campaign is currently aiming to double the number of young people
participating in some form of social action to at least 50% by 2020 and we are willing to
support this objective alongside partner organisations, in conjunction with our value that
every young person has the right to participate in the issues they are most passionate about.
BYC believes that the current and successive governments must maintain a consistent line
to ensure the good that young people are doing in their communities is not undermined by
ideological party politics. We feel that social action should be universally recognised as a
force for good in whatever way young people choose to participate and make a difference.
Motion No
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11
BYC Member
Organisation
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
Motion name
Public Service Engagement
BYC believes that our public services must make an effort to listen and respond to us all,
regardless of our age. Whether that may be Clinical Commissioning Groups for local health
services, crime prevention forums or local government consultations to important reforms on
our local services, these groups have to reach out to the younger generation in their
communities and create a space in which young people become active stakeholders within
their local communities. With vital issues such as youth services, ‘stop and search’ policies
and healthcare as some of the areas which impact young people in diverse ways on a
regional and local level, we can only have a better democracy if decision making starts on a
grassroots level.
Young people have the right to have a say on the services which will eventually become their
responsibility to manage in the future and all groups concerned must make a more concerted
effort to engage and act upon, in order to support the wellbeing of themselves and their
peers.
Motion No
12
BYC Member
Organisation
National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
Motion name
Mental Health Awareness
Everyone struggles with the pressures of growing up from time to time and young people in
rural areas have the added difficulties of accessing real social networks, education, transport
and services. In some cases, these issues can lead to a feeling of rural isolation or social
exclusion.
The Commission for Rural Communities identified three main causes of rural isolation:
1. Lack of income and employment
2. Lack of transport and other services
3. Social isolation – the lack of contact with, and help from relatives, friends and
neighbours etc.
We would like to raise awareness of the mental health issues in rurally isolate areas and wok
with other organisations to ensure that young people in rural areas have someone to talk to
and access the necessary support they need.
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Motion No
13
BYC Member
Organisation
National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs
Motion name
That it should be mandatory that all primary school children have a
farm visit supported by learning resources in increase Field to Fork
education in schools.
We believe that all primary school children should have the opportunity to understand where
their food comes from and visit a farm. Many children and some adults currently believe that
food comes from the supermarket and don’t think about the actual producers of the food they
eat every day.
We believe that from an early age field to fork education should be a part of the national
curriculum as a fundamental part of a child’s learning. This should involve trips to see
farmers and growers, understanding how food gets from the farm to their plate, the
nutritional values of food and benefits of a healthy diet and a chance to experience growing
plants and caring for animals.
We believe that practical outdoor learning will enhance children’s education experience on
physical academic and social levels. We believe that children require an understanding of
food production in order to make positive eating and shopping choices in later life. Equally,
children with a respect for food instilled at an early age we feel are less likely to waste food.
Motion No
14
BYC Member
Organisation
St John Ambulance
Motion name
Get first aid in schools
BYC believes that every young person should have the chance to learn first aid. It should be
as much a part of growing up as learning the alphabet. It is currently up to individual schools
to offer pupils the chance to learn lifesaving skills and while most young people say they
would like to learn first aid, only a small proportion get the opportunity to do so. Through
working in schools, young people and BYC member organisations we are determined to
change this.
Thousands of people die each year in situations where first aid could have given them the
chance to live. If first aid were taught in schools then, over time, a generation of life savers
could be trained. Currently, around 21%* of schools offer first aid training, even though 97%
of teachers believe that it is important. Teachers cite lack of time (35%), staff training (33%)
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and cost (21%) as barriers to introducing lessons into the classroom. Furthermore, 57%
believe it would take first aid training to be a national curriculum requirement in order for
more schools to take it seriously. Free resources and session plans are already available for
schools and youth groups to use.
The following story highlights the importance of learning first aid. On the morning of
September 19, 2013, James Pidwell and his sister Katie were leaving for school. As James
locked the door, he turned round to see his sister ahead of him, collapsed in the road and
having a seizure. Having learnt first aid as a Sea Cadet, James immediately acted.
‘I made sure the area around Katie was safe,’ he said.
‘Once her seizure had subsided, I quickly checked for a response and, realising that Katie
was unconscious and her airway was blocked, put my skills into practice.
James cleared her airway, ensured she was then breathing normally and placed her in to the
recovery position. Without access to a phone and with no passers-by to help, James used
his and his sister’s coats and bags as a barrier around Katie to keep her safe, while he raced
to the nearest house to call the emergency services.
He returned to Katie and stayed by her side until the ambulance arrived, then went with his
sister, reassuring her when she regained consciousness, and waiting at the hospital until
their parents arrived. Without James’ swift intervention, Katie’s airway would have remained
blocked and the incident could have undoubtedly been fatal.
James learnt first aid at Air Cadets, this highlights that first aid can be learnt anywhere and
resources are available to youth groups. But to reach more young people, first aid should be
a skill that has to be provided by schools.
It is known that having more first aiders makes communities more resilient. This change
would benefit all young people across the country making schools, homes and youth groups
better prepared for situations that need first aid.
*St John Ambulance, 2014 YouGov survey of 1,157 primary and secondary school teachers
Motion No
15
BYC Member
Organisation
The Scout Association
Motion name
Supporting “Project Wild Thing” and reconnecting children with nature
The past decade has seen a radical transformation in the way that children interact with their
surroundings. With the advent of modern technology, it seems as though every child is glued
to an iPad, tablet or laptop.
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Project Wild Thing is an attempt to reconnect children in modern Britain with nature. In the
past it was commonplace to see children outside exploring their local environment, climbing
trees and enjoying the outdoors. However, with the pressures of the modern world and the
countless restrictions imposed on young people, it is perhaps no surprise that pictures of
young people enjoying nature are increasingly few and far between.
As Peter Bradshaw, writer for the Guardian notes, “A new generation is addicted to iPads
and consoles, getting obese and insidiously depressed in the process, and parents are
letting it happen.” The Project is an attempt to reconnect children with nature. According to
the BBC, “inactivity and obesity mean children born today have a lower life expectancy than
their parents, for the first time ever.” It is time that we acted to reverse this seismic shift.
Whilst the modern world may have the potential to eradicate most of the world’s problems, it
is instead depriving children in our society of a childhood in which they are allowed to
explore the world around them, learn important life skills and character traits, make mistakes,
and build friendships, free of the restrictions imposed by modern life.
Statistics published by The National Trust reveal a difference between the generations.
Today, less than 10 per cent of children play in wild places, compared to 50 per cent a
generation ago. The roaming radius for children has also declined by 90 per cent over the
past 30 years. The fact that children no longer play outside is a reflection of our society.
Young people born today do not receive the opportunities that generations before were lucky
enough to enjoy. It is up to us to change this.
The Scout Association calls on members of the British Youth Council to support the work of
“Project Wild Thing” and ensure that all children in the UK have the chance to enjoy the
outdoors. It is essential that all children are able to play outside, keep fit and learn the ‘soft
character skills’ that are increasingly required to obtain work. Access to the outdoors is not a
privilege, it is a right.
The British Youth Council believes that members and the government should support the
work of “Project Wild Thing” and encourage young people to spend more time outdoors.
Playing outside is an essential part of the development of every child and it is paramount that
all children are given the opportunity to enjoy nature free from harm and the pressures of the
modern world.
Motion No
16
BYC Member
Organisation
The Scout Association
Motion name
Support increased collaboration between formal and non-formal
education providers
We believe that education has one of the biggest impacts on the lives of young people.
While learning inside the classroom is greatly important, non-formal education found outside
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those walls is just as valuable.
Leaving school, the majority of young people today feel there are important gaps in their
knowledge. The strain on teachers to cover all aspects of learning is growing ever greater.
Youth groups and organisations often do their best to fill in these gaps and support the
learning done in schools and universities but with little recognition for their efforts.
We believe that schools, community organisations and youth groups should work
collaboratively- sharing skills, facilities and resources. This would enable education to
become more holistic in its approach, focusing not just on academic learning but equally
important life skills such as citizenship, teamwork and determination- things that are regularly
left off the curriculum.
A school’s encouragement of extra-curricular activities and non-formal learning should be
considered as part of its value. This could include the sharing of school facilities with youth
groups outside regular school hours and the collaboration of teachers and non-formal
education providers- swapping skills and supporting one another.
We also believe that non-formal education should be recognised at an equal level as
standardised examinations. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is recognised by many employers
and universities as having outstanding value- equal to many academic achievements. This
appreciation and understanding of its importance should be widened to the hundreds of
other awards and schemes run by youth groups and organisations.
This could be achieved by giving them recognition in the community and the school which
would filter out into everyday life. For example, the newsagent would understand the
importance of the Cycling Proficiency award when they select their paper boy.
With the tightening of the curriculum and finances it is becoming ever more important to pool
our resources and work together. The key to this is recognising the importance of non-formal
education and its ability to run alongside and support the work of formal education in
schools.



BYC will continue to encourage organisations to work together to lobby government to
recognise the value of non-formal education.
BYC will work with government to see how formal and non-formal education can be
linked and resources shared.
BYC will campaign for a UK-wide programme similar to the Curriculum for Excellence
in Scotland, which rewards young people for more than just their academic
qualifications.
Motion No
17
BYC Member
Organisation
The Scout Association
Motion name
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Supporting youth representation and consideration at all levels of
governance
Thirty-one percent of the population of the United Kingdom are under age 25 (Office of
National Statistics - 2011 census). The proportion of our elected and appointed policy
makers in the same age bracket? Startlingly low. Every day, discussions, debates and
consultations are held in government offices, council chambers, and the halls of the Houses
of Parliament, with no representation from almost a third of the country’s residents. Policies
with enormous impact on the young people of this country are written and passed,
sometimes without having been seen by a single person under the age of 25 - the very
people that are going to be affected.
How many college students told the government that they’d like to see a rise in the annual
cost of university tuition fees in 2012? Which group of young people made the decision to
scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance? At what point did a collection of teenagers
say that there were too many libraries open for them to study in?
The average age of Members of Parliament is 50 years old, with the very youngest member
aged 29. The youngest Peer in the House of Lords is 37. This is plain and simply not
representative, and is detrimental to young people up and down the land.
The following measures are proposed in order to combat this situation, and ensure a fairer
deal for this country’s youth:
Requirement for youth representation at all levels of governance; in local and regional
councils, in national assemblies, in the Houses of Parliament, and every other lawmaking body across the country.
The legislative requirement for consideration of the impact of new and existing
policies on young people, and where possible, the greatest practicable measures
taken to avoid disproportionate negative consequences on them.
The requirement for every policy that has a measurable impact on persons under 25
to have undergone real, accountable consultation with a body of young people. This
could be achieved either with a specifically dedicated board of young people, across
local councils, national assemblies and the UK government, or by utilising youth
organisations already in place, like the British Youth Council and UK Youth
Parliament.
The introduction of a Minister for Young People, and the introduction of Young Peers
to sit in the House of Lords (with a maximum age limit of 25). As well as being
responsible for issues that solely affect children and young people, their remit would
also cover the representation of this country’s youth, and the continuing effort to
ensure all policy has taken into consideration the effect on young people (as detailed
above) and their representation across government.
There needs to be radical proposals from the British Youth Council to enshrine young people
with real, measureable influence in Government and local authorities - with concepts from
quotas for young people within the political party selection processes, to budget scrutiny
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panels. These proposals should be brought from the member organisations of the BYC, and
should be ambitious, bold, and call on practice and evidence from across the globe. They
would then be presented back at the next BYC ACM, for debate and a decision on which
ones to campaign for in the run up to the 2020 general election.
Motion No
18
BYC Member
Organisation
UNISON
Motion name
Living Wage
The British Youth Council (BYC) believes that work must at the very least provide a route out
of poverty, and that a Living Wage is therefore necessary. While the national minimum wage
“adult” rate is set at £6.31 per hour (increasing to £6.50 on 1 October 2014), it still enshrines
age-related discrimination with lower rates for younger workers, and a separate, even lower,
rate for apprentices. Calculations for the current Living Wage would set a single rate of £7.65
per hour for the UK, and £8.80 for London, with no age discrimination.
The BYC agrees that anybody in work should be paid the ‘rate for the job’ – not different
rates which are based on the ages of those involved.
The BYC also agrees that a Living Wage is vital to (i) reward work adequately; (ii) ensure
that workers are not dependent on benefits to live; (iii) stop employers’ profits being
subsidised by taxpayers; (iv) ensure young people are able to choose to live independent
lives.
This ACM calls on the BYC to campaign in the run-up to the General Election for the national
minimum wage to be set at a single rate, at the level of a Living Wage.
Motion No
19
BYC Member
Organisation
Wandsworth Youth Council
Motion name
Police and Young People
This motion is designed to build better relationships between the Police, Community Safety
Teams and Young People in the UK.
Young people want to help the Police in a number of ways, including:
1. Increase the quality and quantity of youth voice within Police decision-making
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processes, for example: policy development, strategy, communications and front-line
service delivery.
2. To give the Police access to young people so that they can: listen to their views, take
on board constructive criticism and change the way they interact with young people.
3. To support the Police in times of crisis where they need to get information out to
young people quickly e.g. child abduction cases.
We believe that Police and Community Safety teams offer a lot to their community. We
recognise that they are governed and held accountable by national and regional decision
making bodies. This motion is designed to support each decision making body to improve
Policing in the UK.
1. A national Police Youth Think Tank resourced and supported by the Metropolitan
Police should be set up. This will support young people to be involved in strategic,
national policing decisions that affect them.
2. Crime Prevention and Street Wise workshops should be run in all schools and youth
centres across the UK. This will support young people to be more street wise and
know their rights.
3. There should be a measurable increase in the quantity and quality of monitoring on the
sale of weaponry.
4. Keep the language used when talking about policing plain and simple. And where
relevant, for young people to youth proof Police policies and help social media
campaigns.
5. A positive youth perception campaign should be run to help reduce the fear and
stigma that adults have of young people.
6. Workshops for senior Police Officers should be run by young people; to give Police
Officers a better understanding of what life is really like for young people.
7. At least one BYC Convention should be themed on Police and Community Safety
issues. Regional decision makers should be made available at that meeting.
8. Have young people involved in local policing and community safety decisions that
affect them and for these impacts to be evidenced.
9. For local Police and Community Safety teams to take part in the Children’s
Commissioner Takeover Day. The aim of this, to give them a better understanding of
what life is like as a young person living in the community they serve.
10. Youth Voice Vehicles to run district or borough wide campaigns on the negative side
to crime, gang culture and drugs.
11. For local Youth Voice Vehicles to support other young people to attend ward panel
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meetings and make them youth friendly.
12. For Youth Voice Vehicles to be a critical friend to local Police forces.
Motion No
20
BYC Member
Organisation
Wandsworth Youth Council
Motion name
Improving Mental Health
This motion has been designed to support the increase in quality and quantity of Youth
Mental Health provision across the UK.
1. All Child Adolescent and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Mental Health Access
points should be youth friendly. For example, where possible – rooms should be large
and airy, have windows. Staff should be polite, warm and welcoming and sites should
be easily accessible to young people.
2. To help young people understand what CAMHS is, literature should be youth proofed
and include lots of images. There should also be literature specifically tailored to
young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
3. Peer education projects should be run in schools and youth projects to raise
awareness of mental health issues and to reduce the stigma associated with mental
health.
4. A national mental health website should be set up for young people. This website
should support young people to talk to a health professional online and offer
alternative signposting where appropriate.
5. A CAMHS open door policy offered in every borough or district. This should be offered
once a month, where open and no commitment consultations are available to young
people to discuss any mental health problems they maybe experiencing. More of
these sessions should be made available during exam time, to help young people
deal with the increased stress and anxiety of exams.
6. A list of 10 national indicators of poor mental health common amongst young people
should be created and publicised in schools and youth groups .
7. Youth Voice Vehicles should run support the peer education projects. A short film
should be created to raise awareness of the stigma associated with youth mental
health issues for parents and young people. Schools could then use this in PSHE/
Citizenship/ Health lessons.
Youth Voice Vehicles should be consulted on the CAMHS self assessment form and impact
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its design and wording on a local level.
Motion No
21
BYC Member
Organisation
Youth Action Kouncil
Motion name
Engagement in physical activity
Recent research suggests that young people are becoming less active, and this is
particularly so in relation to young women.
We believe that young women’s engagement in physical activity will be enhanced by the
involvement of friends and peers and should be fun, not always competitive, accessible,
affordable and locally published.
Our aim is to introduce a collaborative approach involving health and well being boards,
education establishments, local authorities and gyms to address this important issue.
It is estimated that the cost of a lack of physical activity in England alone is £8.2billion each
year and so to do nothing is clearly not an option.
For more information on this research visit http://www.widerimpact.com/july-2013-youngwomen-physical-activity-competitive-sport-report-delivered
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