"CSI: Highland Youth Voice"- Crime and anti-social behaviour Conference

Highland Youth Voice, the elected youth parliament for the Highlands, meets this week (17th-19th June 2010) at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic
College at Sleat on Skye. The conference has been planned by young people to look at issues around crime and anti-social behaviour as well as a session on the Council's budget consultation. Young people attending will take away messages to share with other young people in their schools, youth forums and groups in their areas.

The conference will be opened by Superintendent Philip MacRae from Northern Constabulary. The young people will also be joined by Convener
Sandy Park, Budget Leader David Alston, Chief Executive Alistair Dodds, and Director of Finance, Alan Geddes to discuss the budget proposals.

Workshops will be run by Northern Constabulary looking at how the police engage with young people. Youth Voice members will be involved a session looking at "Hate Free Highland", the multi-agency website for reporting hate crime. Crimestoppers will also be giving information around their work.

There will be awareness raising sessions on LGBT issues and Sensory awareness and members of the Highland Senior Citizens Network will be present to discuss intergenerational work. The young people will also receive training on how to engage with the media.

Highland Youth Convener Magnus Monahan said: "I'm really looking forward to what will be my eighth and final youth voice conference. We've got some very interesting topics to look at and I'm particularly pleased the budget consultation team is coming to find out young people's views."

There will be entertainment from Youth Voice member and DJ, Darren Boa, and a ceilidh with local band "Cast Ewe".

An 'Open Mic' session and area workshops will give Youth Voice members the opportunity to discuss other issues of importance to young people in Highland.

Highland Youth Voice is managed by The Highland Council and it gives young people a chance to have their say and meet decision makers. The Highland Council's Children's Champions Councillors and Magnus Monahan, the Youth Convener will then feed back to the Council on what the young people have to say. On their return from the conference, Highland Youth Voice members will also be giving information re the conference and issues discussed to other young people in their schools, youth groups and community meetings in their local areas.