Building upon data received from its Youth Needs Assessment, West Oxfordshire District Council is gearing up to create a dedicated youth specialist role and allocate funding through Westhive for youth-led projects, underscoring its commitment to ensuring young voices are represented in future Council plans.
Cllr Joy Aitman, Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities, said, “Our commitment to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of our youth, and understanding how we can best support them, is one of our core priorities.
“Research tells us that our young people struggled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with disruptions to their education and social lives, as well as limited access to essential health services.
“In response, we are urging our young residents to bring forward their ideas for projects that will benefit them, using our new community crowdfunding platform, Westhive. We will be dedicating a minimum of £20,000 from our pledge fund towards projects that matter most to them, enabling them to drive the changes they want to see in their communities.
“We are also exploring the potential of a dedicated youth specialist role, working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council. This role will be at the forefront of ensuring that young people's voices are heard in key decisions affecting our district, and that services are more tailored to meet their needs.
“As a Council, it is our duty to take the lead in initiating important conversations about the district's development with our young residents, so that they feel recognised and valued."
The introduction of a new youth specialist role will improve communication between the Council and its young residents, prioritising their needs in discussions around major Council strategies, including the Local Plan, climate strategies, and the Council Plan. Supported by research indicating the strong desire for young people to contribute their ideas and be heard, this initiative, alongside the allocated Westhive funding, aims to ensure young people are actively involved and represented in decisions shaping the development of their communities.
These youth-centred strategies stem from a study conducted by the Council in 2022 to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by young people. The study engaged local schools and youth organisations, collecting nearly 4,000 responses from individuals aged 11 to 25, along with feedback from 177 parents.
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