Health Is Top Topic At Highland Youth Voice Conference
Highland Youth Voice, the elected youth parliament for the Highlands, meets this weekend (20-22 June) at Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Skye. The conference programme has been designed in response to requests from Youth Voice members to be more aware of health issues for themselves, their friends and young people in general.
Gillian Slider, the Highland Youth Convener and Gillian McCreath, a ‘Health’ Children’s Champion in Highland will welcome Highland Youth Voice members and introduce the health theme for the event. Over the weekend, the young people will have a Panel Question Time with such topics as mental health, skin conditions, sexual health, wellbeing, drugs and alcohol and much more. The panel will comprise of Sally Amor (Child Health Commissioner, NHS Highland), Rebecca Mackinnon (Local GP), Chris McSherry (Local Nurse), Lorraine Mann (Health Promotion Specialist – Sexual Health and Young People, NHS Highland), and Gillian Slider (Highland Youth Convener). This will be an opportunity for young people to talk about health issues in their lives and the lives of other young people. They will have the opportunity to take part in Yoga, boxercise and dance workshops, walking, a healthy cooking demonstration and tasting and a health fair. Young people attending will also be starting to shape the first Highland Youth Manifesto and progress the work of their 3 campaign groups! All members will also have the opportunity to gain a First Aid certificate for a Save a Life course run by the Red Cross! There will also be more opportunities for debate among the members on issues they face in their local area. And if that was not enough there will be a night with some local youth bands on the Saturday!
Highland Youth Voice, supported by the Highland Wellbeing Alliance which is a partnership of public and voluntary organisations, gives young people (drawn from schools and local youth forums) a chance to meet directly with decision makers who are delivering services to young people.
Gillian said: “The young people of the Highlands see health as a top priority, this conference will ensure that they are well informed and encourage them to speak out on the issues that affect them. The Highland Youth Manifesto shows real progress and will work towards a Highlands that we will be proud to call home.”
To make arrangements to take photos or to carry out interviews during the conference in Sabhal Mor Ostaig please contact Audrey Anthoney on 01463 702043 or 07766388445.