Friday 9 March 2007
SWINTON TEENAGERS GIVE EVIDENCE TO NATIONAL INQUIRY
ON YOUNG PEOPLE
John Healey MP to meet teenagers at Swinton Community School, Mexborough, Friday 16 March
With unprecedented concern over youth in the UK, teenagers from Swinton will be giving evidence to a national inquiry on the future for young people when it comes to town on Friday 16th March.
The Make Space Youth Review is undertaking a one-year high-profile investigation into young people today – our attitude towards them, their views, what’s on offer and what needs to be done. Members of the Make Space Youth Review will be joined by John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Financial Secretary to the Treasury for the fact-finding mission that will hear from over 150 teenagers.
Mr Healey said: “The Make Space event will be an important opportunity for young people in our area to tell us what they need and what they want. I am looking forward to our discussion and to hearing their views.”
The Swinton visit is part of a national Make Space campaign run by the national charity 4Children. In particular, the Review wants to find out what young people are worried about, if there are enough places for them to go and things to do and how things can be improved.
Craig Jones, Director of the Make Space Campaign, said: “The kind of adults that young people become is profoundly affected by their experiences as they grow up. We need to take young people off the road to crime and anti-social behaviour before they veer onto it. If not, the cost in terms of people’s lives and tax-payers’ money is enormous. Providing positive activities and support for teenagers is an investment that we have to make.”
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For more information contact:
Katherine Abbott, Head of Communications, 4Children on 020 7522 6928
katherine.abbott@4Children.org.uk
Craig Jones, Director of Make Space on 07766 207 395
Joanne Wilson, Researcher to John Healey MP on 01709 512463