Youth summit held to give young people a voice

Ayyat Adigun, a youth commissioner for Sandwell, said young people can feel unsafe in their local area

Up to 100 children and young people have come together in Walsall to have their say on services offered to them.

The youth summit, Shaping My Tomorrow, involved nine to 25-year-olds discussing council decisions that affect them.

One councillor said the aim was to give young people direct input into how services operate now and help shape how they should be in the future.

At the event Ayyat Adigun, a 17-year-old youth commissioner for Sandwell, said: “Young people should feel safe and often we don’t - and it’s very important that we do.”

Malia Dayas is a youth commissioner for Dudley

Malia Dayas, 15, a youth commissioner for Dudley said it was really good to get young people involved.

“[They] are voicing their opinions on what actually makes them feel unsafe in their local area and what can be done about that,” she said.

Another Dudley youth commissioner Kaytlyn Evans, 15, said they were campaigning to enable young people to have a more effective voice.

“[It is] for those who want to try and speak up and try to create a better environment and safer for those who are struggling," she said.

“I feel like so much crime has risen and there’s a lot of knife crime - and personally I think the community is getting so unsafe because where I live, I don’t feel comfortable going out.”

'Empowered to speak'

Councillor Stacie Elson, portfolio holder for children and young people. said the priority was to make sure young people are "heard loud and clear".

“Young people will [then] feel empowered to speak about things that matter to them,” she said.

The summit was inspired by the region-wide My Tomorrow youth-led campaign, which was launched in May.

The project was designed by 11 to 25 year-olds, with the aim of empowering young people across the West Midlands.

Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to shape the decisions and services which affect their lives.”