Stroud District Youth Council
Who are we (Mission Statement)
Stroud District Youth Council (SDYC) is the recognised active voice for young people in the Stroud district. We strive to represent 12,500 eleven to eighteen year olds and seek to give a democratic voice to the young people in the Stroud district.
Why we exist
There are many reasons why we exist, but fundamentally it’s because young people have the right to be heard on matters of concern to them – the basis of all our work is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In particular Articles 12, 13 and 15.
What we do
Engage in local democracy and decision-making
Influence and scrutinise district council decision-making and that of other organisations who deliver services for young people
Enable young people to express their views and be heard on issues that affect them
Act as the recognised voice for views and ideas, by advising and leading on issues of change
Help design and run issue based projects and programmes
Who We Represent
Membership to Stroud District Youth Council stems from secondary schools, a further education college and nine community-based local youth forum groups in the district – this enables a diverse membership to represent the views of a wide range of young people from different communities and social backgrounds.
A little bit of history
The Stroud District Youth Council (SDYC) was founded in 2000 by Stroud District Council in order to give a democratic voice to the young people (11 to 18 years) in the Stroud district who had an opinion but no means by which to express it. Since then huge numbers of young people and their communities have benefitted from the work of SDYC and many young people as members, have acted as representatives of their community and advocates of young peoples issues. Consequently, this has brought about change in them, their communities and the organisations who have served them – SDYC members past and present have all acted as positive active volunteers and their efforts are not only part of the local history, but the impact of their work can be seen today in the communities and lives of those who took part in or benefitted from the work undertaken.
Our Objectives
- Seek to represent and communicate the views and needs of all those we represent in the Stroud District, including comments on the implementation and improvement of facilities for young people.
- Where applicable, be involved in the organisation and, where appropriate, the delivery of events for young people.
- Seek to further the understanding between groups of young people including those with differing cultural and religious backgrounds and those with special or varied needs.
- Influence and scrutinise Stroud District Council and other agencies on issues affecting young people in Stroud district.
- Work towards the improvement of the image, status and welfare of young people within the Stroud District.
- Use the national Hear by Right standards for youth participation as the foundation for all work which we undertake.
- In pursuit of these objectives we shall operate as a non-religious-based organisation.
- In pursuit of these objectives we shall operate as a non-party-political body.