Summer Update 2014

Craig Bateman, Member of Worcestershire Youth Cabinet for Wyre Forest -"Working for better outcomes for the next generation"

Over the last eighteen months, since March 2013, I have had the absolute pleasure of being one of the Members of Worcestershire Youth Cabinet for Wyre Forest. This is a position that I have been privileged to serve in, and one that I would recommend to anyone interested in youth democracy. But this depends on an active intake of new, energetic young people. In the autumn of this year, Worcestershire Youth Cabinet will be running their annual elections; I encourage as many young people as possible to stand in these elections. An active career in youth democracy is both very challenging but also extremely rewarding. Challenging decision-makers and help-ing others to make a real difference in their local communities is an extra-ordinary position to hold, and I am deeply proud of all of the support, advice and guidance that I have received from the community and its leaders and citizens alike. With change comes new opportunities, and I hope that those new opportunities will be used for the benefit of our community, in particular it’s young people—the next generation.

DANIEL MCKENZIE, MYP VISITS WYRE FORST

During the February mid-term recess, Daniel McKenzie who is the Member of Youth Parliament for Coventry visited the Wyre Forest to meet with strategic community, business and voluntary leaders, and investigate into how rural towns like Bewdley have coped with the recent floods. During the day, Craig Bateman MWYC gave Daniel McKenzie MYP a tour throughout the district which included meetings with the then Town Mayor of Kidderminster and Wyre Forest District Council Chairman at Kidderminster Town Hall; Kidderminster and District Youth Trust; The Kidderminster Shuttle; Mark Garnier MP’s Constituency Office; Dr Richard Taylor; the Bewdley Youth Café; Bewdley and Rural Policing Team; the then Town and Deputy Mayor of Bewdley; and Worcestershire Youth Cabinet.

 

CRAIG BATEMAN MWYC ATTENDS STUDENTVOICE CONFERENCE IN LONDON ALONGSIDE 200 OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE

On 7th July 2014, Craig Bateman MWYC attended the StudentVoice Conference which was held in the University of London Union. The day saw a large gathering of secondary-school aged stu-dents in England and Wales participating in a number of workshops run by organisations such as Model Westminster and ‘Policy Café’ sessions where young people were able to put forward their ideas in terms of how StudentVoice should approach issues such as work experience, votes at 16, and the provision of school nurses going forward. Craig Bateman, MWYC is pleased to have served StudentVoice between March and July 2014 as one of it’s Interim National Executives, and wish all of the new Na-tional Executives the very best of luck in their endeavours as they continue to grow over the next twelve months and beyond.

PLANS REVEALED FOR DISTRICT YOUTH COUNCIL AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S MAYOR

Craig Bateman, MWYC is pleased that the June meeting of the Wyre Forest District Council voted unanimously in favour of developing a Wyre Forest District Youth Council and Young People's Mayor. This motion was proposed by Liberal Councillor Mrs Fran Oborski the then Council Chairman, and seconded by Indepndent Councillor Julian Philips, but will be under the portfolio of Conservative Cabinet Member Councillor Mrs Anne Hingley, showing cross-party work for the next generation. Speaking with the 'Kidderminster Shuttle', Craig said "young people are often not being engaged enough on a local level." "This proect, however, will give them a more localised influence over deisions being made in their community."

CRAIG PRESENTS THE TRYANGLE AWARDS WITH LAUREN, MEMBER OF WORCESTERSHIRE YOUTH CABINET

Craig Bateman, MWYC was delighted that Phil Street, OBE invited Lauren Millichip and himself to present the Tryangle Awards 2014. The Tryangle Awards are an annual event organised by the Worcestershire Council for Voluntary Youth Services that seeks to reward the volunteering efforts of young people who have overcome adverse conditions. Categories for the awards included Personal Achievement in Sport; Personal Achievement in Art and Music; Citizenship and Environment; Good Friends and Carers; and Bravery. Speaking, Craig Bateman, MWYC said “hosting the WCYYS’s ‘Tryangle Awards’ alongside Lauren (one of Youth Cabinet’s other Wyre Forest’s members) was a real highlight of my work so far.” “There were so many inspirational stories of young people’s enthusiasm, hard-work and dedication for others, and I deeply commend the work of all of those in-volved in this project giving recognition to our generation’s true inspirations.”

 

CRAIG HOSTS YOUNG PEOPLE’S QUESTION TIME DEBATE ALONGSIDE BUDDING YOUNG POLITICIANS

On Saturday 12th July, Craig was delighted to be the Independent Chairperson at the Young People’s Question-time Debate held at Kidderminster Library. The event saw young people from the youth branches of their political parties engaging in a debate focusing on topics including mental health, work experience, youth unemploy-ment, and bullying. Craig wishes to thank the very lively audience and Natalie McVey (organiser) for making the event such a success.

 

CRAIG ATTENDS WYRE FOREST YOUNG CITIZENSHIP CELEBRATION EVENT

On Wednesday 9th July, Craig Bateman MWYC attended the Wyre Forest and Hagley Young Citizenship Celebration Event. This is an event organised in partnership with Safer Wyre Forest Partnership and the ContinU Trust to promote the work of young people ac-tively engaged in citizenship within the Wyre Forest and Hagley areas, and those who run projects and groups aimed at raising citizen-ship amongst young people. During this event, Craig was delighted to present badges of office alongside Henry Budden MWYC and Bill Longmore, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner to the newly appointed Community Ambassadors. The ambassadors are a group of more than 40 year nine and 10 pupils from the eight ContinU Trust schools which include Baxter College, The Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre, Hagley Catholic High School, Haybridge High School, King Charles I School, Stourport High School, Wolverley CE Secondary and Kidderminster College who will work together to identify and promote positive messages about citizen-ship, safety and ways to get young people engaged in their communities. Craig wishes everyone all the very best in their endeavours

 

CRAIG HOSTS YOUNG PEOPLE’S QUESTION TIME DEBATE ALONGSIDE BUDDING YOUNG POLITICIANS

On Saturday 12th July, Craig was delighted to be the Independent Chairperson at the Young People’s Question-time Debate held at Kidderminster Library. The event saw young people from the youth branches of their political parties engaging in a debate focusing on topics including mental health, work experience, youth unemploy-ment, and bullying. Craig wishes to thank the very lively audience and Natalie McVey (organiser) for making the event such a success.

 

CRAIG BATEMAN APPOINTED AS NATIONAL AMBASADOR AT MODEL WESTMINSTER

Craig Bateman MWYC is delighted to announce that he has been appointed as one of the National Ambassadors for Model Westminster. Model Westminster is a social enterprise set up as an educational organisation, which focuses on providing an introduction to the policy-making process for young people. Commenting on his appointment, Craig said “with a 44% election turnout rate at the last general election, it is vitally important that more is being done on both a national and local level to engage more young people in the democratic and social policy making process. Model Westminster is an excellent team of dedicated people who, with first-hand experience of these processes, are passionate about giving young people more oppor-tunities to utilise their skills, talents and interests in order to shape Britain’s future political make-up. I am absolutely delighted that I am now working with this project, and will strive to ensure that young people are placed at the heart of everything it does on both a local and national level. ” For more, visit www.modelwestminster.org.uk