Young people from across the area have come together in the city centre to give a voice to the issues facing their generation in the first “Stirling’s Gathering” event.
Over 150 young people attended The Albert Halls to explore areas including mental health and wellbeing, education, young people’s rights, and how transport can create barriers to young people engaging in activities and work opportunities. Young people also took part in sessions where they discussed what ideas they had to make Stirling a better place to live.
Through workshops, sessions, activities and performances, young people explored the topics which were selected by their peers including Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament ahead of the event.
Stirling Council co-designed the event with the Stirling Youth Forum Group who work with young people in areas of deprivation in order to give them a voice and opportunity to shape the future for local young people.
Education Convenor Susan McGill said, “It’s more important than ever for young people to have their voices heard, particularly around the issues that are important to them. It has been a fantastic day and I want to thank the Stirling Youth Forum Group for the hard work they put in to make this event come to fruition, along with our partner organisations who took part.
“Events like this not only give our young people a chance to influence the opportunities available in Stirling and across Scotland, but also allow those taking part to develop new skills and engage with other liked-minded people. A big well done to everyone involved.”
The initiative by Stirling Council and the Stirling Youth Forum Group to highlight the views and needs of young people attracted support of voluntary and third sector organisations from across Scotland including the Scottish Association for Mental Health, the Scottish Youth Parliament and Young Scot.
Stirling’s Gathering also acted as a chance for young people in the Stirling area to feedback their views to their Scottish Youth Parliament to help influence change in their campaigns and will help kick start the 2018 – Scotland’s Year of the Young People, a year-long programme of events, activities and ideas that will give young people in Scotland the opportunity to show the world what they are made of.