Young People Policy Statement

Young people should be recognised as a vital resource in our society and treated with dignity and respect. They should have effective support to enable them to contribute positively to the community. Young people should have access to and be consulted on quality services which meet their needs. They should be informed about their rights and should have those rights protected.

Northern Ireland continues to have the youngest age structure in the UK with almost one quarter of its population under the age of 16 and 37% under the age of 25. Provision for 14-18 year olds is particularly poor and this should receive increased attention. Young people have specific needs at different ages over a short period of years which are the fastest changing in our life development.

Citizenship

Political parties should:

• Enable young people to gain knowledge and understanding about rights and responsibilities – civil, political and social – and develop structures to enable young people to gain the skills and confidence in democratic environments and processes to address the large numbers who do not vote and are disengaged from political, social and economic structures.
• Ensure that schools teach citizenship education and operate effective and inclusive student councils as working models of active citizenship. There should also be early evaluation and development of the programme where needs be.
• Create a Northern Ireland Youth Assembly to ensure that young people have a meaningful relationship with government at all levels to influence and shape policy.

Employability and education

Political parties should:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of New Deal with a view to implementing a programme more tailored to needs in Northern Ireland and improve vocational training opportunities and pathways to employment.
• Review the opportunity to provide funding for training to ensure young people living in and using the services of Foyers become employment ready, similar to the funding provided in England and Wales by the Learning and Skills Councils.
• Make minimum wage standards applicable to 16+.
• Improve and expand career services for young people.

Personal Development/Service Provision

• Provide for ongoing personal development through the school curriculum and extracurricular activities. Particular emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring all young people receive quality Personal, Social and Health Education in school.
• Put in place services to address the mental health needs and emotional well being of young people.
• Take action to combat rising suicide rates.
• Provide quality access to all available service information and provision.
• Provide quality sexual health information and access to contraception along with support for young parents.
• Provide adequate childcare and transport services to enable young lone parents in rural areas to access education.