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Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes the right of every child to freely express their views, in all issues that have an impact on their lives, and the subsequent right for those views to be taken seriously.
Kingston and Richmond Youth Council (KRYC)
The Kingston and Richmond Youth Council is the main mechanism Richmond and Kingston Councils and Achieving for Children (AfC) have to ensure they adhere to Article 12 of the UN Conventions of the Rights of the Child
Every two years across Richmond and Kingston Schools, colleges and youth clubs, democratic elections take place, which ensure young people from both boroughs have the opportunity to vote for their representative..
In September 2021, through an effective recruitment campaign in schools and youth provision 150 young people were recruited to stand as candidates for the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council Elections. In March 2022 the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council Elections took place in schools, colleges and Youth Centres across Kingston and Richmond.
6000 young people voted to elect 30 young people to make the Kingston and Richmond youth council, which would represent the views, aspirations and concerns of young people in Richmond and Kingston.
All 6000 young people that voted in the election also took part in an online pool to give their views on the key issues they felt impact on young people in their borough. The top 4 issues identified by young people in the poll were.
- Mental Health
- Climate Change
- Racism
- Sexual Harassment
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This information was used to inform the work of the newly elected youth council for their two year term of office.
The youth council is divided into two project working groups.
- Climate Change and Anti Racism Working Group
- Mental Health and Sexual Harrassment Working Group
Member of the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) for Kingston and Richmond Upon Thames
Whilst the Kingston and Richmond Youth Council represents the views of young people in the borough, the UKYP reps represent the views of young people on a national level through the UK Youth Parliament.
In March 2022 elections also took place to elect two young people to represent both Richmond and Kingston on the national UK Youth Parliament.
Gabriel Le Boiteux is the democratically elected UK Youth Parliament member for Richmond upon Thames.
Daniel Kim is the democratically elected UK Youth Parliament member for Kingston.
KRYC consultations and projects
The Kingston and Richmond Youth Council and MYP’s have worked together developing the following borough wide consultations and projects to ensure the voice of young people is heard and acted upon:
- Girls Sexual Harassment Survey 2021
- Boys Sexual Harassment Survey 2022
- Young people and Racism survey 2023
We have also developed the following projects and initiatives:
- Richmond and Kingston Climate Change Youth Fund 2020-2024
- Beautiful Minds Campaign 2023
- Kingston Climate Change Youth Survey (2019)
- Visiting various youth clubs and schools
- Make Your Mark (2021, 2022)
- Mi Voice online poll 2021)
- Joint AFC Board and Young People’s meetings (2022-2023)
- Covid Vaccine Youth Champions (2021)
- Richmond Children and Young People's Plan (2022-23)
- Young People and Kingston Local Plan (2023)
- Involving young people in Planning and Regeneration (2022- 2023)
- Exclusion Stakeholder Youth Voice - Young people views of suspension and exclusion in Richmond and Kingston (2021 - 2023)
AQA accreditations and awards
All 30 members of the youth council have received an accreditation award for their work through the AQA accreditation examination board.
Members of the youth council have also won:
- The Richmond Community Heroes Award
- The Kingston Mayoral Community Award
- The Jack Petchey Environmental Award
When it comes to making Kingston and Richmond a better place for young people, we can learn a thing or two from these incredible young people, who volunteer up to 4 hours weekly to actively represent the views of their electorate. Their work advocating youth voice, climate change, fighting sexual harassment and racism is inspirational. They are activists and young change-makers, as well as role models that have paved the way for many young people in Kingston and Richmond.
Podcasts
The Youth Council have started creating podcasts, this will be under our own channel called 'Kingston and Richmond Youth Voice Podcast'.
Full Youth Council meetings
For a breakdown of future KRYC meeting dates, please contact one of the Engagement team.
Contact
Michael Connors
Youth Engagement Lead
Phone: 07714 839614
Email: michael.connor@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Alex Quennell
Youth Engagement Officer
Phone: 020 8288 7511
Email: alex.quennell@achievingforchildren.org.uk