Young people to tackle drug and alcohol issues in their communities 

Our youth voice group, Voice For All, have highlighted drugs and alcohol as an issue effecting young people in their communities. They are now planning ways in which young people across the OnSide Youth Zones network can work together to tackle these prevalent issues through social action. 

The Voice For All group consists of over 30 young people, made up of representatives from each Youth Zone across the country. The group aims to give young people a voice, raise awareness of issues effecting young people and unite the network through social action projects. 

Over the past number of weeks, representatives from the Voice For All group have been gathering feedback from young people in their local Youth Zones about which issues are most important to them including gangs and gang culture, drugs and alcohol, homelessness, and equality for disabled young people. 

It was agreed at Wigan Youth Zone on Saturday 20th October that the Voice For All group would focus their efforts on tackling drugs and alcohol, as hundreds of young people from across the network had voted this the most common issue effecting young people in their community. 

The next steps include researching issues around drugs and alcohol in relation to young people in their local community. Young people will research existing organisations that work in this area in the local community and talk to members of their Youth Zone about what type of campaign they would like to deliver both locally and nationally. 

We will be catching up with the Voice For All group on their next meeting to find out how young people plan to raise awareness and tackle this important issue. 

We look forward to catching up with the Voice For All at their next meeting and finding out how each Youth Zone will be working towards tackling drug and alcohol issues.