Meeting Minister for Children and Young People

The young activists – Mohammed 19, Rachael 21, Sophie 19, Kate 21, Katie 17 – are members of the Respect? Young People's Advisory Group; who alongside the British Youth Council (BYC) and online charity YouthNet aim to change the way young people feel they are portrayed.

Launched last year with a study that exposed the shocking extent to which young people feel they are viewed, the Respect? Campaign empowers its young supporters to challenge the degree to which they feel they are misrepresented. 

Katie, 17, from Newcastle said: "It was great to meet the Minister and tell him about the Respect? campaign and its aim to challenge negative stereotypes. There are so many media stories that show young people in a bad light and it's time there was more recognition of the positive things we do."

Mohammed, 19, from Greenwich said: "It was good to be able to voice young people's concerns to a Minister - the main one being that decision makers don't listen to young people and we lose respect for older people when we get labelled as 'hoodies' and 'yobs'."

Parmjit Dhanda, Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families said: "Young people are all too often targeted unfairly and linked automatically with anti social behavior. It was encouraging to meet a group of young people with such strong ideas and opinions on how to challenge negative stereotypes in the media."

Ends

The young activists are available for interview along with representatives of YouthNet and BYC.

Images are available on request.

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact:

Jo Field, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, British Youth Council
0207 785 6459
07809 507360
Johanna.Field@byc.org.uk
www.byc.org.uk

1. A copy of The voice behind the hood: young people's views on anti-social behaviour, the media and older people can be downloaded via www.youthnet.org or www.byc.org.uk

2. BYC is the national youth council and voice for young people under 26 living in the UK. We represent and involve a unique coalition of young people through their involvement as individuals or through national, regional or local youth organisations.

3. BYC's coalition includes over 170 national youth organisations such as Girlguiding UK, campaigning organisations such as the National Union of Students (NUS) and youth wings of trade unions, political parties, faith and arts organisations. Also within our membership and network are 400 local youth councils and organisations representing specific groups such as lesbian, gay and bisexual and black and minority ethnic young people.

4. BYC works to ensure that young people are involved at every level of decision-making to allow them to be represented and to make their voices heard.

5. We aim to do four things: Provide a voice for young people; Promote equality for young people; Help young people be more involved in decisions that affect their lives; Advance young people's participation in society and civil life.

6. YouthNet is a online charity – founded by broadcaster Martyn Lewis in 1995 – which exists to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams. We actively listen to young people, empower them to speak out and work with them to take action on the issues that they say affect them. We aim to inspire young people, earn their trust and respect and support them with empathy as they seek out their place in the world.