Agenda item

Neil Spencer and John Lang from Forge Community Partnership were welcomed to the meeting.  Members were referred to the Youth Aware Focus Group report 2017/18, and reminded how this work followed on from the Youth Mapping Exercise in 2016.

The report and presentation detailed the findings of research into ways of reaching and communicating information to young people in the local area.

Members were made aware of the methodology used, which included the Youth Partnership establishing a focus group to identify the best approach for the study.

The project used a 10 question survey, which was agreed to be circulated through the school in January, 2018.

804 responses were received, which was a remarkable return.  Many answered that they communicate using social media, with SnapChat being the most popular form of sharing information, but with YouTube being very popular. Facebook was used, but less so that other mediums

Members discussed the merits of social media and the possibility of establishing a presence led by young people in the area.  It was suggested that, due to potential issues such as bullying or harassment via social media, this would need to be overseen by an adult third party.

It was suggested that further work needed to be undertaken in order to develop this as a project further, and that this be discussed at a future meeting of the Area Council.

RESOLVED

(i)           that thanks be given to representatives of Forge Community Partnership;

(ii)               That the detail of a potential Social Media Project be developed for consideration at a future meeting of the Area Council.