Northern Ireland

Young people urge politicians to `listen up'

Michael Lynch, Integrated AlumNI, Colm McGrath, SDLP, Nancy Eaton, Laura McCance, Integrated AlumNI, Stuart Irwin Integrated AlumNI, Richard Lemon, IEF and Mike Nesbitt, UUP
Michael Lynch, Integrated AlumNI, Colm McGrath, SDLP, Nancy Eaton, Laura McCance, Integrated AlumNI, Stuart Irwin Integrated AlumNI, Richard Lemon, IEF and Mike Nesbitt, UUP Michael Lynch, Integrated AlumNI, Colm McGrath, SDLP, Nancy Eaton, Laura McCance, Integrated AlumNI, Stuart Irwin Integrated AlumNI, Richard Lemon, IEF and Mike Nesbitt, UUP
By Simon Doyle

A GROUP of young people urged politicians to "listen up" when they presented MLAs with a report from an event to raise young people's voices in the political sphere.

Assembly members Colin McGrath, Kellie Armstrong, Colm Gildernew and Mike Nesbitt, and councillor Rachel Woods met those who compiled ListenUP! - Young People's Voices report.

The booklet is drawn from conversations at the ListenUp! event, which brought together 80 people aged 16-30 from a variety of youth groups and schools to question and challenge politicians.

Representatives from the five largest parties listened to discussions on topics including education, mental health, and a vision for the future, before being invited to give feedback on what they heard. Politicians then signed a pledge to engage further with young people and to continue the conversation.

The report reminds politicians of that pledge and also reflects the comments, questions, concerns and challenges voiced.

:: The document can be found on the IEF and AlumNI websites: www.ief.org.uk and www.integratedalumni.org.