Young peoples’ voices to be heard in Lochaber

Members of The Highland Council’s Lochaber Area Committee have welcomed  Lochaber Young People to their meeting today (Wednesday 7 November 2018) and pledged to foster better and more ways of engaging with young people in the area.

Highland Youth Convener, Esme Leitch and Members of the Lochaber Young People gave a presentation to Committee updating councillors on the variety of activities undertaken within the area during the Year of Young People.

Esme said: “It’s great to see Lochaber Area Committee valuing the voice of young people and acknowledging some of the positive work they have been doing during the Year of Young People. I look forward to being part of the delivery of the pledges the Committee has made today and supporting them to further their engagement with young people in the future.”

Local highlights included young people from Ardnamurchan attending PRIDE in Glasgow; 2 young people in Kinlochleven receiving Young Scot Volunteer of the Year Award; and Highland Youth Arts Hub Live projection at Glenfinnan Monument, which featured young people from Fort William.

Councillor Andrew Baxter, Chair of the Lochaber Area Committee said: “Our young people are our future and we value their opinion and input about how we provide Council services in Lochaber. We also appreciate hearing how they would like to engage with the Council and we will do all that we can to ensure that their preferred methods of engagement are adopted to ensure that their voice is heard.”

Members agreed to support further development and use of social media within the Council as a platform for engaging with young people including the Year of Young People sites on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Other social media platforms in the area maintained by High Life Highland for Young People are:

  • South Lochaber Youth Development
  • Ardnamurchan Youth Development
  • Fort William Youth development
  • Kinlochleven Active Schools
  • Fort William active schools
  • Ardnamurchan Active Schools
  • Mallaig Active Schools

Members also agreed that the Council will facilitate a consultation with Sheil Buses, community transport providers, stakeholders and young people from the Lochaber area High Schools, West Highland College UHI and youth groups to ascertain how public transport could be improved to ensure it meets the needs of young people accessing education, training, leisure and work in the area.

Support was also given by Councillors to improve the LGBTI inclusive practice in the Area’s four High Schools as the schools strive to achieve their LGBTI Charter Awards.

7 Nov 2018