The Kick-Off 09
Nearly 300 Young People representing 27 schools and colleges in Birmingham descended on Villa Park on Thursday 12th November for the Kick Off, a welcome event for the young people who will be taking part in the Envision programme this year.
The event was officially opened by speeches from Envision Director and Co-founder, Nick Nielsen, Cooperative Foundation Manager , Sarah Robinson and Councillor Les Lawrence who followed live music from upcoming rock band, Outf!t. The band and opening remarks were both met with cheers and rounds of applause from the energetic Envision students.
The afternoon saw 240 of those young people break out into groups for master classes delivered by experts on various issues including climate change, homelessness, poverty, drugs and alcohol and crime and gangs. As well as learning about a range of these issues, the young people also had the chance to try out their skills at music production, graffiti and urban dance. The master classes serve as an opportunity for Envision’s students to develop their knowledge of various issues to aid their community projects they have begun in their weekly Envision sessions.
The final 60 young people were led to the McGregor’s Suite at Villa Park for the ‘Big Debate’. A panel made up of councillors, media representatives and academics discussed the issue of negative stereotypes of young people, with topics developed from canvassing opinion forms filled in by Envision students from across the UK.
The Kick Off was a great welcome to all involved in Envision this year and it promises to be another successful programme with so many young people committed to making a positive difference!
Messages of support from Truth about Youth Panellists
“It’s important that young people are given the opportunity, and confidence, to make a difference in their community. Young, creative people are the lifeblood of society and anything that helps that cause is worthy of applause. From what I’ve seen of the Truth about Youth programme, opportunities to ‘make a difference’ are being grasped with both hands by young people from the West Midlands. Long may it continue.”
Ben Godfrey, journalist and reporter from BBC Midlands Today
"The Truth About Youth debate was as lively, challenging and passionate as all Envision events. One week after the event my brain is still swimming with all the interesting questions raised by the young people, who won't let adults avoid the difficult issues! Contributions from the young people and the police made me think critically about media reporting, and how I might be able to improve my writing. Anyone who was at the debate couldn't fail to have the stereotype of young people as apathetic or disengaged shaken up. I look foward to hearing more about the great projects they're going to go on to do."
Rowenna Davies, Freelance journalist, The Guardian & Member of Envision Grad Advisory Panel
'Truth about Youth' Launch Event 2009
