MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 20 May, 2002

Setting up regular roundtable discussions and an information system matching young people's needs with participation opportunities in Christchurch are among proposals being considered by the City Council to give the region's young people a stronger voice.

The proposals, to be further developed with input from youth organisations and young people, follow a recommendation by the Council's Community and Leisure Committee to replace the current Christchurch Youth Council with a more effective youth participation scheme which can involve more young people. "We want to increase youth input, not lessen it," says Robyn Moore, the Christchurch City Council Youth Advocate.

"The structural difficulties that have been experienced over the last few years with the current Youth Council system, have resulted in the Council looking at other ways to give youth in the city a strong voice and encourage more effective youth participation," she says.

"We have more than 70,000 young people to draw on in the city. These proposals will allow greater representation of youth from the region to be involved.

" Youth roundtables would give Council staff and elected members the chance to touch base with young people around the city to get feedback about specific issues and how life is for them in the city.

Also proposed is the establishment of an independent youth body, supported by the Council, to provide a strong youth voice in the city. A decision about whether to disestablish the current Christchurch Youth Council will be made at the full Council meeting on Thursday 23 May.

ENDS

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