Our Youth Voice Conference experience, by Jack Fitzpatrick & Harry Gorman

Jack Fitzpatrick:

Last Tuesday, a group of first year Politics students attended the Youth Voice Conference at Wallasey Town Hall. We had put forward motions that we were going to discuss throughout the day and in a debate in the Chambers in the afternoon. The theme of the conference this year was on mental health in education, and to open up the day, the mayor gave a speech on the effects that mental health can have on individuals.

I thought the conference was brilliant and that it showed that youth are engaged in politics - so much so that they had arranged for this day to happen. Right from the minute that we arrived at Wallasey Town Hall, we were greeted and provided with packs full of all the information we needed to help and guide us throughout the day, which I thought was a very good idea. 

We were also very privileged to convey our motions and to give speeches in the Chambers that afternoon to a panel of professionals and experts in their fields. All three of our motions that we had put forward to the conference were accepted and three of us opened the debate on the theme of mental health and education.

There was also the fact that during the break there were stalls of partner agencies associated with the conference and this I think showed to young people that support and guidance was available in the Wirral if they needed it.

The workshops that we attended were fantastic as young people had prepared these and it was their own personal interpretation on the topics of mental health in educational establishments and what support can be in place if young people end up having mental health problems.

I proposed a motion on the topic of the BePART programme and spoke in the Council Chambers in the afternoon and I thought it was a real privilege to be able to give a speech in such a prestigious place and then for experts to debate about my speech.    

In summary, I though the conference was well organised and it was for young people, by young people on topics that matter to us, and that our views were listened to and representatives from different organisations around mental health can now act on the views that we have expressed.

 

Harry Gorman:

The Wirral Youth Voice Conference on World Mental Health day was very enjoyable to attend. Dance, discussion and debate were some of the highlights of the day and made for a worthwhile experience. We got plenty of freebees promoting the local youth centre. The debate in the Council Chamber was a personal highlight as it enabled a good discussion with many different views and opinions. Though, in terms of improving mental services, there is no debate. The event could be summed up by its great atmosphere and the enthusiasm by the youth of today and the leaders of tomorrow.