Other youth related news and resources
The UK Youth Parliament sat on Friday 15 November in the House of Commons to take part in five debates on topics which were voted for by 478,386 young people across the UK. The five topics were votes for 16 and 17 year olds in all public elections; a curriculum to provide young people for life; zero tolerance towards bullying in schools; combating youth unemployment; and better work experience and careers advice. To view the debates visit www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14182&utm_content=buffer107ab&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer.
Amplify, the advisory group of children and young people at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, has launched their report What We Say We Need based on a survey of over 1300 children and young people. Key findings from the report include the top things which young people and children say they can’t live without are home, someone to care for them, food, water and a bathroom; 89.7 percent of respondents said that access to education is the most important opportunity for all children and young people; to have a family and be with family was the top most selected hope and dream for respondents. To download the report visit www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_738.
The Children's Rights Alliance for England has published a report stating that the UK's record on protecting children and young people's human rights is not improving due to systemic problems with government policy and public services delivery. The report highlights the rights of children at risk of harm and those in the criminal justice system as particular areas of concern. To download the report visit www.crae.org.uk/media/64143/CRAE_England_Report_WEB.pdf.
IPPR has published No More NEETS, a report which sets out a strategy for radically increasing the proportion of young people who are earning or learning. Key recommendations include a means tested youth allowance for 18 – 24 year olds to keep young people out of the adult welfare system; a youth guarantee to offer young people access to further education or vocational training plus intensive support to find work or an apprenticeship, for those not learning or earning after six months; and the Government should set national objectives and priorities for the youth guarantee but the leadership of local areas should be mobilised to organise and deliver in, starting with eight core cities. To download the report visit www.ippr.org/images/media/files/publication/2013/11/no-more-neets_Nov2013_11516.pdf.
What kind of future do Britain’s young people face is the second short paper in IPPR’s Condition of Britain series focuses on young people in their teens and early 20s. This phase of life has become, for many, more difficult and insecure in recent decades. The paper looks at what should we as a society do to guide young people into adulthood and help them to prosper? To download the guide visit www.ippr.org/publication/55/11487/condition-of-britain-briefing-2-growing-up-and-becoming-an-adult.
The anti-bullying organisation, Ditch the Label, is carrying out its annual anti-bullying survey, which will be sampling young people aged between 13 and 25 from now until 14 January 2014. For further information visit www.ditchthelabel.org/annual-bullying-survey-2014/?utm_content=buffer2c9d1&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer.
Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson has published guidance on offering internships and apprenticeships for young people. A new video and posters will explain to young people leaving education what their rights are in relation to being paid the National Minimum Wage, where to go for more information and what action they can take if they feel they have been exploited. Alongside the new guidance, HM Revenue and Customs will be sending out letters to 200 employers who have recently advertised intern opportunities and unpaid work. For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/government-reveals-new-support-to-protect-interns-right-to-fair-pay.
The YoungMinds website includes a guide to mental health services, containing information on services about mental health for children and young people. To access the webpage visit www.youngminds.org.uk/for_children_young_people/guide_to_mental_health_services.
Puzzled Out is online participation tool for commissioners and young people, which aims to help young people influence how child and adolescent mental health services are commissioned and provided. To access the tool visit www.puzzledout.com.
The Department for Work & Pensions has published guidance entitled Supporting young people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The fact sheet, aimed at support organisations who work with disabled people provides information on how DWP will invite current DLA claimants, approaching the age of 16, to claim PIP. To download the fact sheet visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-young-people-claiming-pip.
ForcesWatch has published The Last Ambush?, a report drawing on over 150 sources, including 41 British military mental health studies, as well as testimony from veterans. The report shows that compared with older personnel, younger recruits are significantly more likely to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, to drink at levels harmful to health, and to behave violently on their return from war; young recruits from disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk; and under-18s are over-represented in the infantry; over the past five years 32 percent of all under-18s recruited joined the infantry, which makes up only 14 percent of Britain's armed forces. To download the report visit www.forceswatch.net/content/last-ambush.