Youth Voice Conference
At the end of October more than 100 young people, youth workers, police officers, voluntary sector organisations and influential people came together to listen to young people’s thoughts and views about safety in our Essex communities. With the aim to listen and learn from our young people.
Young people and their voices were at the heart of every element of The Youth Voice Conference. With the support of Essex Boys and Girls Clubs and Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services, and funding from the VVU and Essex Police, the day was brilliantly organised, hosted and presented by young people from across Essex.
Young people from the Young Essex Assembly and The Outhouse confidently hosted the welcome and afternoon session. In the morning there was a variety of fascinating and insightful workshops on topics chosen by the young people prior to the event. These included:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Awareness from Interact
- LGBTQ+ and hate crime awareness presented by young people from The Outhouse
- Self Defence with Wing Tsun Martial Arts
- What to do in an emergency lead by Essex and Herts Air Ambulance
- Your Safety on a Map facilitated by Essex Safeguarding Children’s Board
- Staying Safe in public with Essex Police Cadets
- Healthy Relationships delivered by The Next Chapter
- Interactive Safety in Essex Art from Essex Boys and Girls Clubs
Over lunch, and in the break period, there was an information fayre with many stands from organisations who care about young people and their safety.
The afternoon saw Rachel Nolan, Assistant Chief Constable of Essex Police, launch Essex Police’s new youth strategy and Jane Gardner, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, rounded up the day highlighting how very important listening to young people is in order to create effective change. The Deputy PFCC gave a clear message that the PFCC are listening and want to keep listening in order to learn and focus actions in the most effective way
