Youth in contemporary Youth in contemporary urban Europe:urban Europe:

Understanding the Issues, Understanding the Issues,

Implementing the Implementing the SolutionsSolutions

Dr Aminul Hoque MBEDr Aminul Hoque MBE

A Radical IdeaA Radical Idea

Young people can Young people can achieve and achieve and

contribute positively contribute positively to societyto society

A question for the A question for the audienceaudience

How are young people perceived and How are young people perceived and portrayed by the media and certain portrayed by the media and certain politicians ?politicians ?

What are the common stereotypes and What are the common stereotypes and images associated with urban images associated with urban youth ? youth ?

An alternative theory of An alternative theory of YouthYouth

YOUNG PEOPLE:YOUNG PEOPLE:

Are human beings with feelings, needs and Are human beings with feelings, needs and emotions;emotions;

Are responsible citizens;Are responsible citizens; Are assets and NOT problems;Are assets and NOT problems; Are caring;Are caring; Are special, unique and full of ideas;Are special, unique and full of ideas; Are creative and intelligent;Are creative and intelligent; Are street-smart;Are street-smart; Are future leaders of our society;Are future leaders of our society; Deserve a second chanceDeserve a second chance

Issues affecting Issues affecting contemporary urban youthcontemporary urban youth

Locate the person next to you and Locate the person next to you and have a discussion about what have a discussion about what you feel are the top 3 most you feel are the top 3 most important issues affecting the important issues affecting the youth of today ?youth of today ?

Chris PriggChris Prigg

Aged 24Aged 24 Did not enjoy schoolingDid not enjoy schooling Currently works as a Currently works as a

telecommunications engineertelecommunications engineer Also volunteers as a community Also volunteers as a community

football coachfootball coach Is also a peer mentor to other local Is also a peer mentor to other local

young peopleyoung people

Overlapping Issues Overlapping Issues affecting young peopleaffecting young people

The increasing important and intrusive role of The increasing important and intrusive role of technology – the development of the technology – the development of the ‘‘facebookfacebook’’ and and ‘‘IpodIpod’’ generation; generation;

The lack of investment in young people friendly The lack of investment in young people friendly facilities especially in deprived neighbourhoods;facilities especially in deprived neighbourhoods;

A disconnect between 1st, 2nd and 3rd A disconnect between 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation family members;generation family members;

The modern world is more The modern world is more global global where where affiliations and identity are fluid and dynamic and affiliations and identity are fluid and dynamic and not rooted to a particular region or country;not rooted to a particular region or country;

Ongoing wider societal issues affecting young Ongoing wider societal issues affecting young people – people – poverty, poor schooling, crime, police poverty, poor schooling, crime, police harassment, unemployment etcharassment, unemployment etc

Lack of accessible and positive role modelsLack of accessible and positive role models

My two key guidersMy two key guiders

RESPECTRESPECT

TRUSTTRUST

Key fundamental Key fundamental principlesprinciples

Talk to young people and LISTEN to their needs;Talk to young people and LISTEN to their needs; Understand local geo-social landscape and how Understand local geo-social landscape and how

they impact young people;they impact young people; DonDon’’t view young people as TARGET GROUPS;t view young people as TARGET GROUPS; Develop a flexible approach to work;Develop a flexible approach to work; Utilise new and innovative methods of Utilise new and innovative methods of

communication when working with young peoplecommunication when working with young people;; Engage in multi-agency partnership work - Engage in multi-agency partnership work -

putting the needs of young people at core of putting the needs of young people at core of service delivery;service delivery;

Remember that every young person is unique and Remember that every young person is unique and has different needs and requirements;has different needs and requirements;

Involve young people in the decision-making process. Make Involve young people in the decision-making process. Make them them ‘‘partnerspartners’’/ / ““co-creatorsco-creators”” in project delivery in project delivery

A message for youthA message for youth

Be the best that you can be;Be the best that you can be; Think about how you can make a Think about how you can make a

positive difference to society?;positive difference to society?; Enjoy and have fun – whatever you Enjoy and have fun – whatever you

do;do; Remember, that you are the future;Remember, that you are the future; Become more informed;Become more informed; ““Did I try my best?Did I try my best?””;; Work hard, work harder;Work hard, work harder; ‘‘Yes we canYes we can’’

A final message for A final message for governmentgovernment

Nazir Ali Nazir Ali Aged 24Aged 24 Youth ambassador in East Youth ambassador in East

LondonLondon Works for the London Metro Works for the London Metro

ServiceService

A simple messageA simple message

Engage themEngage them Value themValue them Listen to themListen to them Empower themEmpower them Respect themRespect them

Contact DetailsContact Details

Dr Aminul Hoque MBEDr Aminul Hoque MBE

a.hoque@gold.ac.uk

0044(0)79399326500044(0)7939932650

THANK YOUTHANK YOU