The Isle of Wight Youth Council is thrilled to welcome the Youth Trust Taskforce, led by Katie Durkin, to Newport County Hall on Tuesday, 14th November.
Recognised as the ‘Youth Alliance,’ the event consists of various youth groups collaborating to discuss Island-wide affairs.
Who are the Youth Trust Taskforce?
The Youth Trust Taskforce are a group of volunteers aged 12-25 dedicated to causes that matter to young people, including mental health and wellbeing.
Similarly, the IW Youth Council is an apolitical institution with close connections with the IW Council, which works to ensure the consideration of youth voices across the Island.
Hardy: Problems we identify must be addressed
Benson Hardy, the Chair of the IW Youth Council, shared why he organised this event,
“Youth voice is exceptionally important.
“Problems we identify must be addressed, consulting us in the process, and providing us with a chance to recognise the difference we can make.”
Having a voice in society
Youth voice is the idea that young people have a voice in society, which allows them to bring about change and represent their values. Examples of youth voice include youth service, youth activism, youth-led media and youth leadership – all of which both organisations contain.
Regarding youth-led media, the Youth Trust 2023 Census showed that 99% of young people had some form of social media, highlighting the importance of their technological outreach. Both organisations are well-versed in the social media realm as the Youth Trust is active on Instagram (@iowyouthtrust) and TikTok (@iwyouthtrust), whereas the IW Youth Council recently restarted their Instagram account (@iwyouthcouncil).
Durkin: Social media is crucial for our work
Katie Durkin vocalised,
“Using social media, especially WhatsApp and Instagram, is crucial for our work.
“It allows us to connect with young people, providing instant and private communication.
“Apart from this, Instagram allows us to share our organisation’s story through visual content, reaching a broad and diverse audience.”
Establishing six priorities
Establishing six priorities from Island-youth, both the Youth Trust Taskforce and IW Youth Council wish to encourage associations, charities and local authorities to consider the impact of their decisions on future generations.
Find out more
For more information or if you are interested in introducing your organisation to the Youth Council, email the Chair of the Youth Council at [email protected] or visit Isle of Wight Youth Council.
If you are equally interested in joining the Youth Trust Taskforce or have any queries, email Katie Durkin at [email protected] or visit Youth Taskforce.
News shared by Benson, in his own words. Ed
