UK Youth announce the official launch of Hearing Unheard Voices

Leading youth work charity UK Youth is pleased to announce the official launch of its groundbreaking young people led project, Hearing Unheard Voices funded by the BIG Lottery Fund.

UK Youth’s Hearing Unheard Voices gives young people the skills and opportunities to speak up to shape services, through media and campaigning activities. Hearing Unheard Voices is open to groups of young people aged 11-18, with a particular focus on those who are rarely heard such as young people who are for example homeless, young carers, LGBT, BME, disabled parents and those who are not engaged with school or training.

The launch will take place at the Public in the West Midlands on Saturday 13^th March 2010 and will be attended by Councillor Linda Horton, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, who is also the keynote speaker. With 400 confirmed guests there will be many exciting interactive displays and workshops for all participants to get involved with such as a painting with light creative photography workshop and an e-reporting workshop which will include writing an article for publication. All displays are designed to empower young people and get people involved.

John Bateman OBE, Chief Executive of UK Youth said: “This is a very exciting project for UK Youth and one which we hope will influence other organisations, service providers and young people themselves to be empowered and get more young people’s voices heard.”

Interviews will be available on the day with young people from the Hearing Unheard Voices steering groups, John Bateman OBE and UK Youth staff working on the Hearing Unheard Voices project.

The Public is an award winning venue allowing participants to interact with the digital artworks on offer located throughout the building. Visitors will be encouraged and supported to express their views on the day’s proceedings via the Hearing Unheard Voices new website, as well as through various other social media tools.