• Where am I?
• Home »
• In Your Area »
• South Yorkshire »
• Young Active Voices

Activities for Young People in South Yorkshire

From 2008 - 2011 we ran several programmes for young people in South Yorkshire as part of our Active Voices programme.  Due to funding cuts we are not currently running these in the Yorkshire area.

You can find out more about the youth programmes that we ran below, and find out how to purchase these for your school, college or youth group.

---

South Yorkshire Youth Parliament

The VoiceAbility Youth Parliament was a South Yorkshire wide undertaking and offered the chance for elected young people with learning disabilities (14-25 years) to present the views and concerns of their peers to decision makers from Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.

MPs were elected through a democratic process and ran campaigns in their respective constituencies, which would usually be schools or colleges.

Working in this way meant that a much marginalised group could speak directly to professionals and really influence services and policies in the area. Being in the Youth Parliament meant that these young people really made a different in their communities and had their voices heard. 

The Youth Parliament in South Yorkshire tackled subjects such as Safety in the Community, transport and employment.

Some significant changes were brought about directly through the Youth Parliament including a Safe In Barnsley card and the development of a training and consultancy team who delivered training to the South Yorkshire Police communication division – allowing two of the youth parliament MPs to deliver training to around 300 people. They also campaigned for extensions to bus routes and for an accessible number for the reporting of crimes for all South Yorkshire.

“I'm more confident than I was before. Being a Youth MPs just been amazing for me and got me more confidence” Sarah Bridge - Speaking Up Youth Parliament MP for Norton College Sheffield

“Seeing what young people are doing can not only inspire them, but inspires people like me as well” The Right Honourable David Blunkett – MP Sheffield Brightside

---

South Yorkshire Young People Next Steps

We ran 1 year courses in South Yorkshire, planned by and for young people who wanted to develop a community based lifestyle of work, leisure and learning opportunities.

Young people’s Next Steps supported young people aged 16-25 with learning disabilities and mental ill health to develop skills and confidence to have the life they wanted.

Members could choose from a range of life skills courses designed by young people –

Travel Skills – increased young people's confidence in travelling independently, improved road safety skills, and enabled them to participate more in their community.

Work Skills – worked with young people to find out about different jobs, find out more about what they would like to do, enabled them to be more independant, to learn new skills for work and volunteering and to meet new people

Confidence Skills – members could experience new activities and challenges, have more confidence in what they said, take more control of thir lives, build confidence and were supported to achieve a personal goal

One2One – developing understanding around choice and how to make choices, set targets and take steps to achieve goals, try new community activities.  Members planned a personal challenge and were supported to gain the life they wanted.

“Next steps helped me talk to other people” Loyd Oates

“I really enjoyed Next Steps, it has brought me out of my shell. They are really good courses that gets you out and about. I have made loads of new friends” Mark Ravenhill

---

How to purchase a Young Active Voices Programme

Take a look at our brochures, which explain what we can offer in the Nottinghamshire area:

• Participation Brochure (pdf)
• Next Steps Brochure (pdf)
• YPSU Brochure (pdf)

Prices would vary depdending on group requirement and programme structure. They can also be tailored to your particular requirements so don't be afraid to give us a call and find out what we can do for you. Email Denise Hill to arrange a chat.