Youth Council

Youth Council members lead and support campaigns on issues that matter to young people in West Northamptonshire.

Some campaigns and projects include:

• Knife Crime Prevention Video Project (with NSVPP)
• Online Bullying and Digital Safety Campaign
• Operation Sceptre engagement with local policing
• Cake and Debate - annual engagement and celebration events

Presence at public events and fun days, delivering peer-to-peer outreach.

This flagship initiative brings together young people, adults, councillors, educators, parents and professionals, in an informal and respectful discussion space.

Key issues explored include:

• mental health
• school issues
• youth safety
• transport
• half term projects
• discrimination and inclusion

The relaxed setting encourages mutual understanding and empowers young people to speak with confidence.

Planned to launch this year, the Youth Awards Programme will recognise excellence and commitment in areas.

Such as:

• volunteering
• social action
• peer support
• environmental leadership
• overcoming adversity

This will be linked to the annual Youth Summit, making sure we do not duplicate but add more value to the current service, the Youth Awards will take place on the same day as the Youth Summit.

A key long-term goal is to connect all youth voice structures across West Northamptonshire.

Including:

• SEND Youth Board
• Youth Wellbeing Forums
• Youth Advisory Boards
• School councils and community youth groups

This unified network will streamline youth engagement, amplify shared priorities and reduce duplication.

The Youth Council is run in partnership with Clubs for Young People Northamptonshire (CYPN). This helps us reach young people from a wide range of communities, including those not in formal education.

CYPN has strong links with local youth services and supports us with recruitment, facilitation and ongoing engagement.

We also work with:

• Safer Northants and NSVPP
• Schools and colleges
• Young Northants
• Northamptonshire Association of Youth Clubs (NAYC)
• Local youth clubs and faith groups
• National Youth Agency (NYA)
• UK Youth Parliament
• West Northamptonshire Council services
• Youth Council UK (NYA)

WNC and CYPN jointly deliver monthly meetings, campaign activity and outreach in schools.