Council and Democracy >> Youth Council

Hastings Youth Council

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What is it?

Set up in 1998, Hastings Youth Council is a group run by young people for young people.

Youth Councillors visit Parliament with Michael Foster who was MP for Hastings and Rye until May 2010

There are 20 Youth Councillors (and over 400 other young people) who make sure that the adults who make the big decisions about the town listen to the thoughts and feelings of its young people before they do anything.

To join the youth council, you have to:

• be aged between 13 and 21
• live, work or study in Hastings and St Leonards
• have lots of ideas and opinions
• find out what others think too

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What you'll have to do if you join:

• represent the views of young people in the town
• try to influence decisions being made in the town in the interests of those young people
• regularly speak directly to people in power
• promote a positive image of young people in the town
• meet every Thursday between 6.30pm and 8pm at our the Fellowship of St Nicholas Centre, 66 London Road, Hastings

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What we'll do for you if you join:

• give you training throughout the year so you get new skills and confidence
• give you a safe place to meet every week
• give you free transport home if you need it

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Who will help you

• our two adult workers support the meetings, share knowledge and arrange training
• they plan campaigns, events and activities based on what you tell them
• they create a newsletter around 4 times a year
• they have a monthly column in the local paper that you can contribute to
• they hold 'open meetings' in the Town Hall every two months.  Everyone is invited!

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In 2008, the youth council...

• took over the Town Hall for a day with a massive music event featuring local young bands!
• consulted over 5,000 young people and got over 1,000 responses to their survey
• got all schools to sign up to an Anti-Bullying Charter and held a big event at White Rock Theatre
• persuaded all schools to recycle their rubbish with a not-for-profit making company after finding out that local authorities charge schools business rates to collect their recycling
• fronted a campaign to get a world-class, state-of-the-art youth centre in the town
• persuaded Hastings Observer to have more positive coverage of young people.  They now have a monthly column called Youth in Action!

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In 2009, the youth council...

• put forward 4 young people as candidates for Youth Mayor
• get young people in the town to vote for the person they want to be Youth Mayor
• improve the way Hastings Borough Council communicates with young people
• Work closely with Hastings Trust, East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council to try and get £5 million for better youth facilities in the town

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To get involved

Call our Youth Participation Officer on 01424 451760 or e-mail: hyc@hastings.gov.uk right now!

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Useful information for young people

Connexions 360

A brand new website called Connexions 360 has just been launched for 11 to 19 year olds who live in East Sussex.  The site features real-life stories and useful advice on topics such as contraception, health, money and travel for young people.

County Council website

On www.eastsussex.gov.uk you can find:

• Tips on money
• Things to do
• Dealing with bullies
• Sexual health
• Advice for young carers
• Advice for young parents
• Much more!

Night Bus Service

The Night Bus Service can get you home for just £1.

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