Cumberland Lodge an education charity contacted NE Youth at the beginning of 2024 regarding workshops they would like to deliver to young people around the importance of democracy and what democracy is. NE Youth organised 2 separate workshops, one in Sunderland and the other in Gateshead. Over 20 young people took part from a wide range of back grounds and political views. The workshops were facilitated by the staff at Cumberland Lodge with support from youth workers from NE Youth, Youth Focus NE, The Activity Den and The Dunston Drop in. After the workshops all the young people where offered the chance to attend a 3-day residential in London to discuss and learn more about Democracy. To make the selection fair all young people interested in the residential were asked to put a small piece of work together, spoken word, art, written word on why they would like the opportunity to take part in this amazing opportunity. The work was selected by an independent judge and the 4 young people chosen where informed and the next step of the programme was discussed. The young people chosen where invited to attend online chats and educational sessions with the Cumberland Lodge, where digital exclusion was an issue due to lack of data and internet the young people came into the NE Youth base to use computers and mobile devices. When then met up on a regular basis to discuss the residential and discuss issues they wanted to chat about, so they felt confident in their own knowledge before the residential and meeting others. 3 young people attended a three-day residential in Windsor representing the young people of the northeast. They attended the residential with groups from Belfast, Liverpool, London, Birmingham, Cornwell and Scotland and took part in three days of seminars, workshops and activities. Young people learned and practiced skills such as, listening to other people's views and opinion, challenging calmly, thinking about the audience in a discussion and using appropriate words and context and the importance of telling a story. The young people also learned about what's fake news and maybe what's just misleading news, they discussed politics especially the recent election in America and through about both sides of the argument. They final task was to come up with a social action close to their hearts and present their ideas to the rest of the group, using their above learning. The young people came up with an amazing idea around education for local young people around homelessness and what young people really need to know. From this the young people want this social action to happen and have asked me to speak to the SMT at NE Youth for advice around funding opportunities going forward. “First time out of my local area and first time on train and I am glad I did it with you guys, I have learned so much “ - Stephen aged 20

Ages: 14-15 years. Year 10 students. Location: George Stephenson School and Rowan Court Independent Living Accommodation Situation: Mrs Smith contacted me for information on Junior Campaigners and Healing hearts and Minds programmes. She has heard about the programmes from other professionals and invited Holly and myself into into the school to discuss both programmes. Task: 4 weeks Junior campaigners social action programme, delivered in the school. After the programme was delivered the young people came up with their own social action programme that would benefit others living in the local community. Action: Young people came up the idea of offer a games morning for the local older residents living in an Independent living accommodation 5 minutes’ walk along from the young people school. The young people made lists of what was needed for the game’s morning, we supported them with a risk assessment and the information needed to contact the accommodation to make contact. Results: 23 young people delivered a fun morning of games and bingo with hot beverages and snacks. The young people have made a great impression on the staff and the residents, the residents had a brilliant morning and has asked for the young people to do the session again. “This is amazing, we never get anyone to come into the recreational area(!!), to have young people in the room is lovely. The food is lovely and fresh, and the games have been great!”

Whilst in North Ormesby Youth Club, 8 young people engaged throughout the 7 weeks of this junior campaigner’s project. The first few weeks of the project, I was introducing myself and the project with the young people and finding out what they were passionate about helping to change in their local area. The young people were torn between helping people with mental health issues and creating wellbeing packs for them but not knowing where to give them to, and they were wanting to help people who are homeless, creating packs for them and donating them to a homeless shelter in Middlesbrough town. The young people then decided their passion was to help the homeless and we thought about what we would like do to do tackle this. Over the next week we designed a poster which would be put around Middlesbrough and North Ormesby and got this to the standard we would like it, on this week also we created a list of the things we would like to put in the packs for the homeless. The young people decided they wanted, hand warmers, gloves, socks, blankets, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, wipes and a refillable water bottle, lots of tinned food and sanitary items. The week after this we put all of the packs together and worked as a team to get 20 packs completed and made up ready for them to be delivered. Staff members went to Doorways in Middlesbrough town centre which is a homeless shelter, and delivered these packs and gave them some posters so that they could also advertise themselves.

We recruited 5 young people from the Redcar area who were interested in becoming young inspectors. All 5 of the young people met up with some Middlesbrough young people and…