YOUNG people met with key council decision makers at Saltcoats Town Hall this week to tackle a host of hard-hitting issues at the latest Youth Joint Cabinet meeting

Taking place during National Youth Work Week, it was the latest in a series of joint meetings involving North Ayrshire Council’s cabinet and senior officers alongside members of the Scottish Youth Parliament and the Youth Council Executive.

(Image: NAC) Representing all of North Ayrshire’s secondary schools, almost 100 young people attended from Irvine Royal, Greenwood, St Matthews, Kilwinning, Largs, Auchenharvie, Ardrossan, Garnock Community Campus, Arran High and Lockhart Campus.

With other events already under way, the lively session run by North Ayrshire Youth Services also featured representation from North Ayrshire’s Youth Work Modern Apprentices, the Youth Executive, school youth forums, Pupils Parliament’s and Police Scotland.

(Image: NAC) The discussions centred around key themes decided upon by young people prior to the event, including:

  • North Ayrshire Council’s budget engagement
  • Youth crime and anti-social behaviour
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Activities and opportunities
  • United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (young people’s rights and youth voice)

(Image: NAC) The young people were also shared an update on the launch of the new North Ayrshire Community Learning and Development Strategic Plan.

Councillor Shaun Macaulay, cabinet member of education and young people, opened the event and said: “I am astounded by the number of enthusiastic young people who have given up their time today to participate in the latest Joint Cabinet.

“November marks our 30th Joint Cabinet meeting. As a local authority we are proud to be one of only two councils offering this impactful approach to youth participation that ensures young people remain at the heart of our decision-making process.

(Image: NAC) “A key milestone of National Youth Work Week, we have used the event this morning as a platform to raise awareness of the importance of working upstream.

“Put simply, this is all about using youth work proactively to provide vital support to help local young people to unlock their potential in North Ayrshire.

(Image: NAC) “By giving them a voice and raising awareness of important topics including our ongoing Budget engagement, we have been able today to understand young people’s unique perspective and most importantly determine their key priorities and the actions required to build a fairer and equal North Ayrshire for all.”

Young People’s Champion, Councillor Chloé Robertson, said she was proud of the young people taking part in the event.

(Image: NAC) She said: “Thank you to our inspirational young people for attending today’s Joint Cabinet meeting who spoke with courage and determination on behalf of their peers.

“Joint Cabinet is a vital part of the council’s youth participation strategy, it allows pupils to learn more about how their local authority operates, while forming an important part of the council’s approach to give young people a voice.

(Image: NAC) “The action-packed morning was a brilliant example of the power of youth voice in action and the council’s commitment to UNCRC Article 12 that states the importance of ensuring that children and young people have the right to express their views and have them considered when decisions are made that affect them.”

During the round-table discussions, the format included a combination of listening to the experience of young people directly and encouraging attendees to scan a QR code and contribute online via the council’s youth participation digital platform.