Jenni Clutten speech to South Norfolk Council AGM

So, it’s my 3rd time at this meeting and I can’t help wondering if you’re getting bored of me yet.

Once again I’ve come to give a brief rundown of the things that have been going on and the way in which this has affected the young people who live here in South Norfolk.

As we are all aware, this year has been one of great achievement with the district council winning Beacon status for their work with young people in a joint bid with the county council.

It is something to be celebrated and also something that you all must try and understand the importance of.

It should not only be upheld as something to talk about and to be proud of, but also act as a guarantor of the rights of young people. Not only listening to young people’s opinions but also accepting and understanding the significant and important positive role in the community these people can play.

I sometimes worry that by staging such a stereotypical ‘band’ event that in effect we are not helping but hindering young people.

However, if to break the barriers between stuffy council meetings and young people this is what has to be done then I’d happily do it 100 times over.

Yet even though I’m standing here today with an audience who will listen to the words that flow from my mouth, I can’t help feeling that there are still young people who are being let down.

I’d certainly like to see more young people employed here. They could be that missing piece in the jigsaw. You see it’s not until I see young people having an impact on all areas of the council’s work that I’ll feel able to walk away and beam with pride from what’s been going on.

All areas of the council’s work affect the lives of young people and not just activity projects, which seems to be a common misconception.

The dreaded ‘skate park’ scenario which most older people seem to think addresses the hobbies of at least 80% of population of young people.

I know for example that many young people are facing difficult housing situations and that inadequate support here can be detrimental to society as a whole.

Young people, be they 8 or 18 are the most vulnerable of all social groups. Unaware of the way the world operates, it becomes easy for young people to fade away and this simply should not be happening.

Young people should be encouraged to flourish, enriching the area in which we live and hopefully taking over from you guys!

One of the most refreshing things about young people is their ability to be optimistic. There are no barriers and it is this that I’d like everyone who works here to take on board.

I personally live my life focusing on the belief that everything should be challenged. I know it sounds radical and maybe a little naive but it hasn’t done me or anyone else any damage so far, only made me stand up for what I believe in.

Thank you again for inviting me to be here.

Related pages

• Latest news