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TV spot for Youth Forum

Members of Shepway Youth Forum featured on the BBC Politics Show on Sunday (16 September) when the programme focused on the changing fortunes of the Liberal Democrats ahead of the party’s annual conference this week.

As well as an interview with forum Chairman, Jack Devine, about the time the party was in control at Shepway, the south east regional half of the programme showed a ‘speed dating’ session held following the forum’s annual meeting on Thursday. It was part of the regular Councillors to Young People (C2YP) sessions organised by the Forum to give young people and local councilors the chance to discuss topical issues and  concerns.

Thursday’s speed dating session gave each side three minutes to air their views before councilors moved on to another table to meet two more forum members.

“It was the first time we had done speed dating and it went very well. Everyone had something to say and some tables were so deep in conversation it was hard to get councillors to move on when the three minutes was up,” said Tamasin Jarrett, Shepway Council’s Youth Engagement Officer.

In his report to the annual meeting, out-going chairman Jack Devine said it the Forum had achieved a lot during the year, but the greatest achievement had been organising and staging Shepway’s first Question Time – with a twist.

“The objective of the night was to make it solely for young people and to give them the opportunity to ask those questions that they’ve never been able to ask before. We had a panel of local politicians, a local businessman and a representative from the local Police. The turn-out was amazing and well over my guesstimate and the next meeting of the forum was packed with record numbers too.”

He said media reports giving negative coverage about young people hit the forum hard.

“I understand young people make mistakes but doesn’t everyone? And when young people do good things it is not picked up as much.”

Jess Twydall was elected chairman and Lucy Andrews was elected co-chair. Jack Devine was elected treasurer, Chani Sanger elected co-secretary and Mohammed Al-Jourani was elected website administrator.

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