YES Ambassadors Chloe Ford, Ethan Floyd, Abigail Glover, Siara Nash, Jordan Flint, Isabella Metcalfe and Bailey Whitcombe
Cessnock City Council is inviting community feedback on its Strategy to improve the lives of young people in the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA).
Now on public exhibition, the Youth Engagement Strategy 2021 - 2025 (YES) provides direction for Council to support better life outcomes for young people in the area. It identifies ways Council and other agencies can better facilitate the LGA being a vibrant place of opportunity that promotes their growth, education, safety, sense of belonging, and ability to work and meaningfully contribute to the region.
The YES is an initiative of Cessnock Youth Centre and Outreach Service (CYCOS) and was developed in close collaboration with young people aged 12 to 25 who are living, working or studying in the Cessnock LGA. Through online engagement, discussion forums with focus groups and pop-up stalls held at local schools, over 600 people provided feedback during the consultation period from October to November 2020.
Feedback informed a list of 60 actions Council will undertake in the key areas of Health and Wellbeing, Recreation, Education and Employment, and Community Participation. The YES also provides action items for consideration by external agencies.
Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said the YES demonstrates Council's commitment to a brighter future for young people growing up in the Cessnock LGA.
"It's so important that young people have an opportunity to advocate for themselves and know that they've been heard. We're so pleased over 600 young people wanted to be part of this conversation about their future."
"The YES shows Council's dedication to improving opportunities for young people through better access to services, activities, facilities and support," he said.
Read and have your say on the Youth Engagement Strategy 2021 - 2025 here.
