Name of meeting

Isle of Wight Youth Council

Date and time

Wednesday 27 June 2012 at 5pm

Venue

County Hall Newport

Present







Visiting

Ashton Helyer (SW), Lawrie Mason (NW), Rebecca Browning (EW), Julia Banachowska (EW), Bronte Debenham (EW), Tessa Kewell, Alice Blyth, Karen Elliott Alec Webb (EW & Chair),

Andy Newman.



Andrew Hough, Advisor, Raising Participation Age team (Isle of Wight Council)

Apologies

Jonathan Whitehouse, Jack Phillipsborn,
Kieren Thompson, Charlotte Major-Rendell, Freddie Green, Adi Volney (NW), Dennis Kurtin (DMYP),

Due to public transport issues, the meeting had a delayed start.

Apologies offered, introductions made for visitors, and no matters arising.


Raising Participation Age

Andrew Hough explained the Government is increasing the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training, requiring them (from 2103) to continue until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 and from 2015 to continue and until their 18th birthday.
Raising the participation age (RPA) does not mean young people must stay in school; they will able to choose one of the following options post-16:

Andrew emphasised that the key is about training, but also work experience and that the scheme also included volunteering opportunities (details via the Rural Community Council website suggest you insert the link here Andy)

Action: Youth Council members to spread the word to those eligible, to generate interest with young people (in line with subgroup priority) and to encourage contact with Andrew and his team based at Connexions Centre Newport (01983 525927 or [email protected].

Forthcoming visit by Cllr Pugh, Leader of Isle of Wight Council

Cllr David Pugh expressed a wish to meet with the Youth Council and will attend the next meeting on Wednesday 25 July. As this is an excellent opportunity for the Youth Council to discuss issues important to its members and the wider youth community, with the leader of the council, the group had a discussion to decide on some areas to raise.

The key points are;

Alcohol – Lowering drinking age to 16 for low % alcohol drinks and ref the 21 age limit rule, to lower this to 18 at the weekend.

Youth Clubs – Staffing of clubs, and the future of the service

Young Carers Project – funding of project, activities, and networking opportunities.

Isle of Wight Festival – Youth Council representation on wash-