Youth ambassador for Barnet
Apply to be the Barnet Youth Ambassador
What is the Youth Ambassador role?
The Youth Ambassador alongside all forums will help the young people of Barnet recognise they have the power to influence change within their own communities by increasing awareness of democratic participation. Enabling the young people of Barnet to have a voice at a Local, Regional and National level.
Purpose of the role
- to represent the young people of Barnet, ensuring that the voices of young people are heard on a local level with key partners (e.g. NHS), whilst also working alongside the London Youth Assembly representatives for Barnet, who take issues to a regional level and the Members of Youth Parliament who take issues to a national level
- to consult with the young people of Barnet
- chairing Barnet Youth Board meetings and providing leadership and direction to the Youth Board. (with the support of Voice of the Child staff)
- working alongside the other forums and Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) & London Youth Assembly (LYA) members to voice their views and opinions to policy and decision makers across the borough, ensuring that children’s rights are recognised and valued.
Time Commitment
- to attend all Youth Assembly Meetings bi-monthly
- to attend Children’s, Education and Safeguarding committee meetings once a quarter to present the issues raised from Youth Board. In addition to attending events alongside, LYA members, Youth Ambassador and MYP’s
- to meet monthly with Youth Ambassador, LYA and MYP’s to work on campaigns
- opportunity to attend the British Youth Council conventions (approx. 3 Saturday sessions across the year) and the British Youth Council Youth Voice residential (all residential costs will be covered).
How appointed
Election rules
- age range 11 to 18 (up to 25 with additional needs) and to live, study or work in Barnet.
Duration
- Two years in office
Tasks (Leadership/ Strategic Direction)
- identifying priorities for the work of the Youth Board and ensure there is a manageable and achievable agenda for each meeting
- encouraging all members of the Board to engage in its activities
- participating in meetings and keep them to time
- representing the views of young people in Barnet to the Children, Education and Safeguarding committee (CES)
- encouraging young people from other forums to engage with Youth Board and work along with Members of Youth Parliament for Barnet, to enable the views of the young people of Barnet to be fed back on a regional and national level
- supporting the Member of Youth Parliament to lead on the social action project, applying for funding and working alongside a working party made up of young people from across the forums. (The projects will be based on the top issue as voted by the young people through ‘Make Your Mark’).
Skills
- approachable
- inclusive of everyone
- experience: no experience required, just a desire to get young people’s voices heard
- develop necessary skills by taking part in training, in order to effectively carry out the role.
Relationships
- working in partnership with the Deputy Youth Ambassador, Member of Youth Parliament and Barnet’s London Youth Assembly representatives
- building effective and respectful relationships with youth forum members, council officers and representatives of outside organisations in order to carry out the role
- be aware of issues of importance to young people in the borough and other stakeholders concerning matters within the terms of reference for Youth Assembly and Barnet Youth Board
- not to express political views or opinions.
How can I get involved?
Apply to be the Barnet Youth Ambassador
Election timeline
The elections for Barnet’s Youth Parliament Members takes place from December to March. Dates and events are:
January 2022
Applications open online www.barnetukyp.co.uk
30 January 2022
Online applications deadline 11.59 pm
3 February 2022
Candidate debate evening (details will be sent out to all candidates)
7 February 2022
Voting opens online at 9am
20 March 2022
Voting online closes at 11.59 pm
24 March 2022
Election results announced at a presentation evening