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Voice of the North project publishes report

9 August 2011

One North West, the regional BME network, is calling on policy makers and commentators to listen to and value the voices of young people.

The Voice of the North Project brings together a partnership between key partners working for and with young people in the North of England. The majority of the young people are from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

From this and discussions last month with young people, One North West and JUST West Yorkshire have developed the report.

At a time when young people are being ascribed negative and damaging labels following the youth disturbances that are spreading across the country, it is imperative that we take stock of what young people are telling us and respond to meet their needs. The Voice of the North young people said that:

► They experience discrimination as a result of their ethnicity and age
► There is a lack of choice available for young people
► Aspirations are being constrained leading to hopelessness
► The voice of young BME people in the North is not being listened to by Government

The project has been underway since February 2011, in which young people have been involved in sessions with their youth workers to discuss issues that they felt were important to them. This has also included media training workshops and the development of a YouTube channel.

The young people came together last month to discuss current government policy. Key issues that emerged were that they felt discriminated against due to their age and race and also that there was a loss of choice for young people and a lack of hope for the future. The young people reported that:

"We should be able to go to Government to express our feelings because at the end of the day, we are the ones living in the situation," but that "if we put points forward, people think we are being rude and complain about us."

Voice of the North urges the Government to open up possibilities again for all our young people and to provide ways in which young people can raise their voice in Government and be genuinely heard. And it asks:

► How can we build aspiration for our young people?
► How will Government include Northern BME young people's voices in decision making?
► How will Government address discrimination and disadvantage for our young people?