Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Youth Viewpoint - How the panel works

This page contains information on what Youth Viewpoint is and how the Youth Viewpoint panel works - how we ask for your your views, how long you can remain a member and what we can offer members of the panel.

What is Youth Viewpoint?

• Youth Viewpoint is a panel of around 500 young people, aged from eight to 24, helping to make the Borough a better place to live, work, study and visit.
  
• Panel members give their views on Council services, issues affecting their daily lives and on services provided by partner organisations such as the police, fire and health authorities.

Why do we need a Youth Viewpoint Panel?

• We think it is important that residents can influence local decisions and local services.
  
• Youth Viewpoint is key in allowing residents to do this.

Who can join the panel?

• Anyone can be a member, but we need to make sure the panel is representative of the population of the Borough. To help us do this we ask new members to fill in one of our recruitment questionnaires.

How will I have my say?

• Once we receive your form you will become a member of Youth Viewpoint.  You will be asked to answer three questionnaires per year which can be completed electronically or on paper, the choice is up to you.
• If you choose to complete the paper questionnaire you will be provided with a pre-paid envelope.
• Recent topics were How We Spend Our Money, Building Schools for the Future and Wynyard Planetarium and Observatory.  
• You may get invited to small informal meetings to discuss certain issues in depth.  These are held at different times of the day so everyone is given the opportunity of attending.  Refreshments are provided and travel costs are refunded.  You will also be given the opportunity to be invited to full panel events throughout the year.

How long will I be a member?

• You can be a member of Youth Viewpoint until you are 24 years old, then you will be asked if you would like to join our Viewpoint panel. If you ever want to leave, you only have to contact us and we will remove your details from the panel.

What happens to the information I provide?

• We will treat the information you provide us with during your membership of Youth Viewpoint confidentially in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act. When you cease to be a member of Viewpoint all personal information held on you will be destroyed.

What can we offer you?

• You will be eligible to win lots of prizes for all your hard work.
• Every year a 'Design a Birthday Card competition' is held.  The winner receives lots of prizes and the card is sent to every member of Youth Viewpoint.
• As a member of Youth Viewpoint you will receive certificates signed by the Chief Executive when you complete the following number of surveys:

Three surveys completed and you will receive a Bronze certificate;

Five surveys completed and you will receive a Silver certificate;

10 surveys completed and you receive a Gold Certificate (plus two cinema or bowling  vouchers);

20 surveys completed and you will receive a Platinum certificate (plus a £10 High Street Voucher and either swimming, bowling or cinema vouchers).