Borders’ young people are ‘Live and Listening’
Monday, December 4 2006
Scotland’s first Commissioner for Children and Young People, Kathleen Marshall, paid tribute to the resilience and strength of Borders’ youth when she visited Galashiels on Thursday 30th November.
Professor Marshall was at Langlee Community Centre for a celebration of achievement by local school children and young people called 'Live and Listening.' It highlighted a string of creative and enterprising projects, many initiated and run by young people, to give them more choice and a greater voice in the community.
The inspirational day-long event featured presentations from the award-winning Voice of My Own (VOMO) film making project; Youth Chex (a grant funding scheme run by young people for young people); the Youth Health Forum; Girls of Ambition (a ‘Determined to Succeed’ initiative to improve academic and social achievements among female pupils at Hawick High School); and Window of Time (an outdoor activity programme for school leavers and other young people struggling with drugs and social isolation).
A group of pupils from St Margaret's Primary School, Hawick, performed a rap describing how the Feuerstein method of cognitive education can help children improve their ability to learn. The event was compered by young people from the Radio Borders’ youth programme 'Wired', a Dialogue Youth project.
In one of the most moving and courageous presentations of the day, teenager Ashleigh Bell read her own poem about the despair that can end in self-harm.
Professor Marshall said afterwards, "There are so many negative things said about young people by the media, but one of the great things is the energy that people can find within themselves, the ability to triumph over pain".
Professor Marshall told the audience of young people, youth workers, Councillors, teachers, service providers and others: "We consulted young people in Scotland about what they wanted my Office to do over the next two years, and they said they wanted more accessible and affordable activities, more done to stop bullying, and safer streets. Sometimes people call me the Children’s Champion, which seems a bit pretentious, but you can ask me if we have consulted with young people and whether anything has changed as a result. Your voices are the most powerful".
After the day's events, Professor Marshall commented: "It has been a very lively and varied day which I have thoroughly enjoyed. As well as a celebration of young people’s achievements in the Borders, this event has recognised some of the various problems many of these young people have conquered and I think they are an inspiration".
She added: "To see so many different people here today including Councillors and local officials who are taking a genuine interest in young people's achievements is truly wonderful and great for these young people to see that these people really do recognise and applaud their hard work and achievements".
Allister Short of Dialogue Youth highlighted the stereotypical image often given to young people in the media, as thugs, yobs and criminals: "It is vital that we do not label young people," he said. "We need to listen to young people, to their aspirations and hopes. We need to get the right services in the right place at the right time. Young people have a voice, and they are keen to have that voice heard".
Councillor Andrew Farquhar, Executive spokesman and joint portfolio holder for Education and Lifelong Learning, attended the event and explained how he thought youth services are going from strength to strength in the region: "This has been a fine example of what can be achieved through the many inspirational projects and initiatives available to young people today in the Borders. I think it is vital to take this time through events like this today to stop, recognise and reward these young people for their inspirational work throughout the communities across the region. It is also important to sincerely thank the many youth project teams and everyone who is involved in these projects – their commitment and loyalty to these youngsters cannot go unrecognised".
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