Thursday
I9 November 2009
A local young man who recently joined the Pendle Labour Party
shares his thoughts on why he joined the party
Why I joined Labour…
I decided to join a political party because of
concerns with the younger generation not voting and taking little
interest in politics. I asked a lot of people about their reasons
for not voting and most people admitted that they have no understanding
of politics and feel powerless to make a difference, some felt
disenchanted with the main stream political parties. So I decided
to join a political party.
I looked at all parties, and even went to listen
to the Conservative leader speak, however as good a speaker as
David Cameron is, it became clear to me that the Conservatives
had not one policy to put before the audience and on occasions
he asked us “what we would do”.
I’ve always been nervous of the Conservatives
and coming from a working class background know they support
the middle and upper classes. I was not keen on the Liberal Democrats
either as I feel they have not done a good job in Pendle and
seem to change their policies all the time. I did look at the
smaller parties, but I didn’t agree with a lot of what
they had to say.
So I joined the Labour Party because I can see
the difference they have made with the NHS, the support for the
single parent, their determination with education of not just
the young but the old. They brought in the National Minimum Wage,
gave greater rights for the disabled, have actively encouraged
greener thinking among the public, and are trying to reform the
welfare system.
Younger people should take an interest in politics;
it’s amazing how a lot of women don’t vote despite
women having to fight for the right to vote. It’s our future
and it shouldn’t just be up to the older generations to
make the decisions on our future, we should have a say in how
Britain should be in 20 – 30 years time. It’s my
generation who will witness the end of oil production as global
reserves run out, and my generation who will feel the full effects
that climate change will have on Britain.
You don’t have to be an ambitious politically
minded person to join Labour; you don’t even have to be directly
involved, but by just being a member, I feel I can at least make
a bit of a difference to my future and to Pendle and Britain’s
future.
Richard
There are very special contribution
rates for people joining the Labour Party as 'Young Labour' or
as a 'Labour Student'.
For more information visit: https://secure2.labour.org.uk/join
Monday 27 April 2009
Local Focus for Young People's Service in Pendle
Using new powers, Pendle's Lancashire Local
committee has approved recommendations on how Lancashire Young
People's Service will operate in the district over the coming year.
At its most recent meeting, on 22 April, the committee approved ten recommendations
to be included in the Young People's Service's operational plan for the year
ahead.
Recommendations included:
- Reviewing how effective the Young People's
Service's communications with young people are, across all
Pendle's neighbourhoods
- Offering a core minimum offer of activities
and services provided for communities which currently have
no provision.
- Increasing access to sporting opportunities.
- Reviewing which communities are accessing each
centre, to ensure the Young People's Service
is supporting cohesion across the whole of the area's youth
community.
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Working in partnership
A young people's representative from Pendle was given the chance to see the busy
life of a local councillor during a visit to a community mental health centre
in Nelson.
Seventeen year old Saniya Janjua teamed up for
the morning with County Councillor Mike Calvert from the Pendle
Lancashire Local committee, which consists of representatives from
the county and district councils who work together to take decisions
and shape policy at a local level.
Follow
this link to the Pendle News Page to read more>>
Monday 16 February 2009
The Play's The Thing
Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, wants young people
to apply for free or reduced price theatre tickets.
The MP said: “The Department for Culture,
Media & Sport are funding an Arts Council England scheme
that will provide free tickets to people under the age of 26.
Working with more than 200 venues throughout the country, it
will distribute 618,000 tickets over the next two years."
"I would like to see young people in Pendle
take advantage of this scheme – locally, theatres in Bolton,
Bury, Oldham and Manchester are taking part - and the opportunity
to see live theatre should not be missed.”
The MP added: “Londoners are spoiled for
choice in theatre going and, despite the credit crunch, business
is booming. I hope many young people here in Pendle will apply
for tickets - for local theatres and for those further afield
- and have a really great night out”.
Details of the scheme can be found and applications
for tickets made through the "Night Less Ordinary" website: http://www.anightlessordinary.org.uk/.
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Nelson Youth Centre wins "myplace" funding
Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Bradley ward councillor,
said: "This is fantastic news for residents in Nelson, but
more so for the people of Bradley ward.
“It has been a long time coming but I would
like to thank the county council for doing the leg work on this.”
More than 450 young people, aged 11 to 25, are
expected to benefit from the new facility, which will feature
a multi-use games area, internet cafe and computer room,.
Basic literacy and numeracy skills courses, careers,
training and employment information are among the first services
to be offered from the hub.
Residential courses are planned and classes for
the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme are set to be based there.
Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, was also delighted
to learn of the success of Nelson’s Leeds Road Youth Centre
bid for government funding.
The MP said "£1.3 million has been awarded
for a new youth and community centre on the Leeds Road site.
This is excellent news and a great achievement for all involved.
The money comes from the "myplace" pot, worth over £200
million, to provide safe places for all young people to go to
and take part in a wide range of activities.
“You can do a lot with this huge sum of money.
I’m sure young people in the area will be over the moon.”
The centre will benefit 11-25 year olds with
a focus on 13-19 year olds Its design will be led by local young
people and offer arts, music and drama workshops. There will be
a cafe with internet access, an IT suite music studio and an indoor
sports area.
Friday 28 November 2008
Delivering World Class Youth Facilities
The Labour Government has announced £62
million of fast track funding to develop world class facilities
for young people across England.
This first wave of funding will be awarded to 21
successful bidders across the country and will help drive forward
Labour’s commitment to making this the best country in
the world for young people to grow up in. This money will help
provide exciting safe places for all young people to go to and
give them the opportunity to take part in a wide range of positive
activities such as sport, dance and music
The announcement is part of Labour’s ‘myplace’ programme,
a scheme which is transforming the provision of youth facilities
across the country. Labour is ensuring that young people are
actively involved in developing youth facilities in their neighbourhoods
to ensure that the projects reflect what young people want and
need.
Ed Balls and Jack Straw visited the Lazer Centre
in Leeds, which represents the type of facilities myplace hopes
to inspire across the country.
Speaking from the Lazer Centre, Ed Balls, Children
and Young People’s Secretary, said:
“The vast majority of young people are good
citizens, play by the rules and just want better things to do
and places to go after school and at the weekend rather than
hanging around in the street or in the local park. They enjoy
getting involved in exciting projects such as myplace, so I hope
that this scheme will help change the way communities view our
young people.
“myplace will transform positive activities
for young people who will be able to decide what kind of facilities
they want, and when they want them, such as on Friday and Saturday
nights.
“In the Children’s Plan we said we
want all young people to have the best opportunities whatever
their circumstances and myplace will give young people across
the country a chance to enjoy new experiences, learn new skills
and become a valued member of their own community.”
Cllr Asjad Mahmood, Pendle Labour Party
Youth Officer, says:
"Many thanks to everybody who responded to
our survey of 18-year-olds in Pendle. The results are fascinating
and well worth a look."
About You
Question 1: Would you say you were:
(a) Very interested in politics (28%)
(b) Quite interested in politics (48%)
(c) Not interested in politics (24%)
"Three quarters of you showed
a positive interest in politics, which we find very reassuring
for the future. So much for critics of the 'couldn't-care-less
younger generation' "
Question 2: Which political party do you most
closely identify with?
(a) Labour 15%
(b) Conservative 9%
(c) Liberal Democrats 9%
(d) Other 14%
(e) Don’t know 53%
(f) Would not vote 0%
"A lot of doubt about, which
I suppose isn't surprising, but nice to see that nearly half
of you have a political direction. Even nicer to see that Labour
is in the majority!"
The Big Issues
Question 3: Put the following in the order of importance
they have for you, numbering from 1 (most important) to 10 (least):
The number of responses showed your priorities
were:
1 Education
2 Health
3 Tax
4 Employment
5 Environment
6 Crime
7 Defence / War
8 Migration
9 Transport
10 Overseas Aid
"It's good to see that crime
and migration aren't the big worries for most of you that some
parties make out. We'll be doing this survey again - it will
be interesting to see if Education is still at the top after
the new schools and the College extension are built."
Pendle people
Question 4: What do you think are the most important
local issues for young people in Pendle?
Some of your quotes:
“Happiness”
“In rural areas I believe transport
is an important issue”
“..Tax is very important and also health
and education”
“... places to go and environment”
“Transport, motivation, integration”
“Jobs”
“Things to do outside school hours”
“NHS dentist provision especially whilst
in education”
“Cheaper transport”
“Safe streets…and more leisure activities
e.g. more shops, youth centre…”
“Sexual health education”
“Affordable housing”
“…being treated equally... and retaining
A&E service at Burnley General…”
“Improving social issues in the community
and the development of derelict areas”
“Underage-drugs and alcohol-education”
“…sports facilities”
"An amazingly diverse range of responsible
comments. I will pass these on to our Councillors for action."
There are very special contribution
rates for people joining the Labour Party as 'Young Labour' or
as a 'Labour Student'.
For more information visit: https://secure2.labour.org.uk/join 
