North Lanarkshire youth strategy launch

Feb 3 2010 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge

Youth strategy launch

MONKLANDS youngsters are being encouraged to go the extra mile in a bid to broaden their life experience.

'Going the Extra Mile' - a strategy for working with young people in North Lanarkshire - is the second policy for working with young people produced by North Lanarkshire Council and their key strategic partners.

The partners include Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, NHS Lanarkshire, Council for Voluntary Services North Lanarkshire, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Job Centre Plus, the Consortium of Further Education Colleges and Scottish Enterprise.

Their joint approach is to harness and celebrate the value that young people bring to the existing and future development of Scotland.

Gayle Campbell is chair of Youth Buzz, the youth council for North Lanarkshire.

She said: “I'm very excited to introduce this strategy for young people, a document that won't just sit on a shelf and gather dust but will be used to put the jigsaw pieces together for young people, create a picture of available services and support and provide real opportunities that the council and its partners can provide.”

Council leader Jim McCabe, chair of North Lanarkshire Partnership, added: “In North Lanarkshire, we are committed to ‘going the extra mile’ for our young people.

“They contribute positively within many settings, such as pupil councils, youth forums, youth councils, the youth parliament, youth organisations, volunteering and indeed everyday life.

“We acknowledge the wealth of talent that exists and through the implementation of this document we will show our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our young people are having an impact on the issues that affect them.”

Airdrie councillor Jim Logue, convener of Learning and Leisure Services, said: “This strategy provides a framework for the council and partners to respond to the views and aspirations of our young people.

“We will continue to strive towards achieving the best services for our young people in North Lanarkshire.”

The launch event took place at the @Home Youth Centre in Airdrie and was attended by about 100 people.