Youth Led Action Groups
A youth led action group is a group of children or young people who would like to make a difference to their community. The Youth Participation Officer supports youth led action groups across the district, working with children and young people aged between 8-19 years old.
Below are just a few examples of the youth led action groups in Mid Beds. The groups meet either weekly or every other week or monthly.
Spark is a youth group from Ampthill and Flitwick. The group was established in 2004 and during their time they have organised a number of projects, activities and events for the young people of Mid Beds. This includes producing a pack for lower schools in healthy eating, producing a drama about alcohol and the effects of alcohol, fundraising events from a number of charities plus lots more. The group are currently focussing on global warming as their new topic. They are producing leaflets, bookmarks and posters aimed at 9-13 year olds.
SAY are a group from the Sandy area, who have done lots of different projects, including - an alcohol and drugs awareness video, put on a personal safety evening, organised property marking in school, held a charity auction, organised an information sharing event for 1,000 students and currently they are fundraising for a children's orphanage in Africa and developing personal safety information for young people. The group are now organising a music gig for the young people of Mid Beds. So far they have organised 3 gigs with over 120 young people attending each. Watch this space for their next gig!!
Right Direction are from the Biggleswade area and have organised many activities. These include producing a DVD called Changes (the DVD highlighted the different changes young people face - personal, school changes and family changes). The group have also organised many activities centred around alcohol and drugs in the aim to raise awareness. Their last project was organising and running workshops around safety. The workshop was divided up into 4 areas: safety in the home, personal safety (stranger danger), road safety and general safety. The group are now working on their latest project which is all about young people's rights and responsibilities.
Youth Acting Up have produced a DVD and teachers pack on Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) and have attended a large number of countywide events in the aim to reduce anti-social behaviour. The group have sold over 50 copies to schools, community groups and local authorities across the UK. Youth Acting Up have also won many awards for their ongoing success. For more information on the DVD and resource pack click on the following link Youth Acting Up ASBO leaflet.
Here are just a few examples of the youth led action groups in Mid Beds. If you would like to join a group or even set up your own youth led action group email Katy Henman or call 01462 611008 for more information. Mid Beds District Council will provide you with transport so all you need to do is think about what you would like to change about your community or ways in which you can benefit the children and young people of Mid Beds.
