Latest News
KYCC Chair and Vice
Chair elections
Congratulations to Tamanna Miah who
has been voted in as KYCC Chair for 2012 and Annie Maxted who has
been voted as KYCC Vice Chair 2012. Tamanna and Annie are
both experienced KYCC members now look forward to taking on their
new roles! Congratulations!
UK Young ambassadors
trip to Belgium
On the 11th of February 6 UK young
ambassadors met in London to do some consultation training and to
prepare activities for the European consultation team before they
arrive on the 12th.
On the 12th of February the six UK
Young Ambassadors and the EU consultation teams from across the
country travelled to Brussels, home of the European Parliament and
European Commission. In the delegation from the UK was Tamanna
Miah (Representing the UK for UK Young Ambassador), and Paul
Miller from the England consultation team.
Over the trip the team visited the
European Parliament and its new visitor centre (where they engaged
in a simulation of the work of an MEP, met the
“Jongerenambassadeurs voor Participatie” (our counterparts from the
Flemish part of Belgium), went to the European Youth Forum HQ and
got know more about their role. After collating all the
results from the consultations it was great to have so many views
from young people, expressing their opinions and making the
positive change in the UK.
We had the chance of doing a role play
as “MEP for a day” was such an amazing opportunity. We got to
witness the life of an MEP through a huge area of rooms specially
designed for the role playing activities. We experienced how hard
the language barriers can make an MEP’s job and got a taste of
trying to bargain with the other parties to win what we thought our
party would want.
A highlight of the weekend was meeting
the Flemish Young Ambassadors in the European Parliament and
discussing all the matters that are different in Belgium and the
UK, and the ones that are similar that we feel the need to act
on.
We discussed so many matters affecting
our different nations and it was interesting to hear the viewpoints
on many matters affecting the individual nations, and the whole of
the UK.
Three of the UKYAs will now attend an
EU Presidency conference in Denmark in March to discuss young
people’s participation in politics (including votes at 16), before
the whole UK consultation team engages in another massive exercise
in asking young people their views on the topic of inclusion for a
conference in Cyprus in Autumn, which Tamanna will be
attending.
KYCC Residential
Over 50 KYCC Members took part in a Training & Induction
Weekend, to develop the knowledge and skills to be young
campaigners and representing the views of young people across
Kent. They also took part in a number of activities on
Saturday morning including high ropes courses and raft
building! KYCC members then split down into their Campaign
Groups and began to plan for the year ahead!
Diana Champion Volunteer Award
Congratulations to Tamanna Miah who has been awarded a Diana
Champion Volunteer Award! Tamanna was presented with her
certificate at by Paulina Stockell, Chairman of Kent County Council
and Mike Hill, Cabinet Member for Customer & Communities.
Congratulations!
KYCC elections 2011 - iPad2 winner
Congratulation to Isaac Norris from Tunbridge Wells, winner of
an iPad2! Isaac was one of nearly 8,000 young people to
vote in the KYCC elections this year, the first time that voting
has been conducted online.
There were more than 100 candidates standing for 48 seats across
the county and voters not only elected their representatives but
also chose the campaigns they would like the KYCC to work on during
2012.
Find the KYCC members for your area
and the campaigns for 2012.
KYCC elections 2011
The 2011 Kent Youth County Council (KYCC)
Elections took place from 14-20 November and
was the eleventh year in which countywide elections are
held.
In 2011, the elections were held online for the first time
with over 100 candidates and 7,816 votes cast.
Find the KYCC members for your area
and the campaigns for 2012.
KYCC Question Time 2011
On Thursday 10th November, young
people from across Kent put their questions to a panel of KCC
Cabinet Members including Mike Hill OBE, Cabinet Member for
Customer & Communities, Mike Whiting, Cabinet Member for
Education, Learning & Skills, Jenny Whittle, Cabinet Member for
Specialist Children's Services and Rosina St James, Vice Chair
British Youth Council. The event was chaired by KYCC Member
Samuel Watkin.
Young people asked
questions regarding the costs of transport for 16 - 18 year
olds in travelling to school/ college and questioned the
accessibility of buses and trains in Kent. Things to do
centred around the proposed changes to Kent Youth Services and
Employment questions focussed
on increasing apprenticeships for young people and
ensuring these are sustainable for the future.
British Youth Council Annual Council Meeting - 3
September
On Saturday 3rd September, 4 KYCC
Members attended the British Youth Council (BYC) Annual Council
Meeting. Young People were involved in prioritising Campaigns
for the next year, voting on changes being made to BYC and voting
for the Board of Trustees, Vice Chairs and Chair of BYC.
Dara Farrell, KYCC Member, who was
elected as BYC Vice Chair (Campaigns & Communications) told
us
"At the Annual Council Meeting,
after delivering one of the biggest speeches of my
life and answering tough questions from delegates, I was
elected Vice Chair of the British Youth Council. This position
involves taking a lead role on the councils campaigns and
communications. It was my attendance at XCYC Youth Centre in
Ashford and my time at KYCC that have enabled me to stand and win
elections such as this. I look forward to involving KYCC members in
my work and the work of BYC,especially BYCs Save Our Youth
Services campaign which was drafted and moved by KYCC at last years
ACM. I'll always be grateful to Kent Youth Service for the effect
its had on my life, I'll continue to campaign for the retention of
the services youth centres so that other young people can have
the same opportunities I've had."
KYCC Summer events
This year KYCC was successful in its bid to the Youth
Opportunity Fund for 4 trips over the summer, as a reward for all
our hard work and to help us to get to know each other even
better. Members had a choice of 4 trips; Lazer Quest, Thorpe
Park, London & Tree Jumpers.
On Monday 8th August, we went to
Lazer Rush in Whitstable, it was really good and
the girls team beat the boys team twice!
Unfortunately, our trip to
London was cancelled as it was due to take place
during the week of the Riots in London. We were all really
disappointed but we are now going to reschedule it for October!
On Wednesday 17th August, 23 of us
went to Thorpe Park for the day!
It was great, we all loved Colossus and Nemesis but a few of the
group did get stuck on the ‘No Way Out’ Rollercoaster and had to be
rescued! 
Finally, on Tuesday 23rd August we
went to Treejumpers at the Hop Farm for a very wet
and muddy day out! We did the High Ropes course, which was very
scary especially when you are afraid of heights! In the
afternoon, we did Orienteering and Archery, the Orienteering was
really good but we did get lost a few times in the woods!
KYCC have had a great summer of activities and
fun but now back to school and back to some hard work!
British Youth Council Annual Convention - 2 August
On Tuesday 2 August 8 KYCC Members attended
the BYC Annual Convention in London, participating in a number of
workshops including leadership skills; understanding parliament and
how young people can have a voice in the EU and globally.
In the afternoon there was a ‘Question Time’
style panel, consisting of MPs from the Conservatives, Labour,
Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. The questions focused
on Youth Service Cuts across the UK, cuts to EMA and Votes at
16. The panel provided an insightful look into how MPs view
young people and their opinions on today’s issues. It was
interesting to hear their views on current issues affecting young
people and this caused much disagreement among the Parties!
The Annual Convention was helpful for learning
more about youth involvement on a national level, very enjoyable
and we would all definitely recommend attending next year!
KYCC Members debate with
Kent County Council on Post 16 Transport Policy - 21
July
Samuel Watkin & Alice Stretch,
Chair and Vice Chair of KYCC's Transport.you campaign were
invited to attend and represent young people at the
KCC Full Council Meeting on Thursday 21
July.
Samuel and Alice have been
working alongside other members of KYCC and Cabinet Member and
Deputy Cabinet Member for Education, Learning &
Skills Sarah Hohler and Mike Whiting to develop plans for a
new travel pass for 16 - 19 year olds. KYCC will continue to
work with KCC Cabinet Members in developing a number of pilots
for a new transport pass, ensuring it will be a pass young people
can really benefit from.
KCC Garden Party – 6 July
Tamanna Miah & Hayley Back recently
attended a Chairman’s event in West Kent. Tamanna and Hayley had
the opportunity to speak to a number of Councillors and Cabinet
Members about the KYCC campaigns including the Chairman Ms Paulina
Stockell and Leader of the Council Paul Carter.
Post-16 bus scheme - 6 July
KYCC members met with KCC Deputy Cabinet Member for Education,
Learning and Skills, Mike Whiting to discuss plans for
concessionary bus travel for Kent's post-16
students. Issues ranged from rural bus
networks to living in an area which borders another local
authority.
Kent Youth County Council Member, Francis Gregory, said:
"There is quite a high demand and need for such a scheme and the
council wants to help provide it. We are looking for something
that's affordable for the council and for families. I get lots of
questions about transport at my school and being able to discuss
these with someone senior at the council is a good thing."
BBC Radio Kent Interview
KYCC member and Chair of Transport.you
campaign, Samuel Watkin was recently interviewed by BBC Radio Kent
about proposals for a new post 16 travel card for young people aged
16—19 years in school/ college/ apprenticeship.
Britain Better Connected Conference – 29 June
KYCC members recently attended the
Britain Better Connected Conference on 29 June. The young
people attended this event after meeting with Shadow Secretary of
State for Transport, Maria Eagle to discuss the issues young people
in Kent face in using Public Transport and the cost of this for 16
- 19 year olds.
KYCC members had the opportunity to
speak with a number of MPs on the day in planning the future of
Transport across the UK. These proposals will now be
used to design the future Labour Party Policy on public
transport.