First youth summit at council is launched

BIG50 is a 25-year vision to improve prospects in north Northamptonshire

A first ever youth summit at North Northamptonshire Council is launching a programme of events aimed at improving social mobility.

The summit, created by the Youth Advisory Council at the local authority, is part of BIG50 - an initiative aimed at improving living standards and job prospects in the county over the next 25 years.

On Monday, hundreds of children aged seven to eight from local schools will gather at the Corby Cube as part of the project.

Laura-Jane Rawlings, chairwoman of the BIG50 board, said the activities were also about "celebrating" everything happening locally.

Ms Rawlings said she had encouraged more residents and businesses to get involved with the initiative

The youth summit launches a week of BIG50 activities happening this week until Friday, which also includes a variety of sessions and workshops.

The event is open to all young people aged 11-19, and up to 25 for those with special educational needs or disabilities.

One of the workshop runners, Shaun Cook, from Tresham College, added: "What we're trying to get out of the BIG50 workshop is how [young people] can have an input into shaping the future of others because they're going to be the people who will inherit 2050: their visions, their aspirations, their fears, their wants, their needs."

Initially spearheaded by North Northamptonshire Council, BIG50 has been developed with various local organisations.

A steering group, consisting of partners from sectors including education, health, police, business, housing, and local councils, is driving the vision forward.

Adele Wylie, chief executive of the local authority said: "I look forward to seeing how this summit becomes a catalyst for even greater youth involvement in shaping our shared future."

The day will also feature speeches by elected members of the UK Youth Parliament, debates on key issues, performances, interactive stalls and a podcast project.