Voicing an opinion; Youth Board on awards shortlist Young voice for education up for honour.

AN innovative project aimed at putting young people's views on education, training and career choices at the heart of the decision making process has been shortlisted for a national award.

The North East Youth Advisory Board (YAB) is one of only a handful of projects shortlisted for the Young Partners Award, which celebrates young people's involvement in decision making and demonstrates what can be achieved through young people and adults working together.

The award, from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Service (NCVYS), is unique because young people organise the entire event, develop the criteria, shortlist and make the final decisions.

Dorothy Smith, Regional Director of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, which part funds and supports the Youth Advisory Board, said: "The Youth Advisory Board acts as a voice for the region's young people and it enables young people from across the region to have a unique opportunity to inform decision makers in the region through their experiences.

"They have developed a process by which not only a handful, but hundreds of young people across the region are able to contribute to the decision making process." Led by young project workers Laura Wright and Neil Burke, the YAB is made up of around 30 young people between 14 and 19 from different areas and backgrounds who come together to have a say about the current educational issues affecting them and develop projects that other young people can participate in. YAB was established by the North East 14 to 19 Commission to demonstrate its commitment to encouraging the region's young people involvement in planning and decision making on educational issues affecting them. Laura said: "The project provides young people the chance to speak to their peers about the challenges they face regarding their education and enables them to talk about the challenges they face and work together to find solutions" Neil added: "When decisions are being made about issues that will directly impact on young people's lives, it seems only fair that they should play their part in the process. The YAB allows them to do just this."

The group has found that one of the biggest issues for young people is getting the appropriate information, advice and guidance about their education and training which is relevant to them. In answer to this, around 30 young people in Years 9 and 10 are currently being trained so that they can act as peer advisors in three schools across the region. Once the young people from Kings Manor School in Middlesbrough, King Edward V1 School in Morpeth and Benet Biscop School in Bedlington have finished their six week training, they will carry out some research and then be ready to assist their peers through workshops, advice sessions and assemblies come the New Year. The project has also set up a virtual portal to enable young people to gain information relevant to them and a parents' support toolkit to enable young people to work with their parents to understand the current 14 to 19 educational reforms and informyoung people's choice of career path. A delegation from the NCVYS recently came to the North-east to find out more about the project and assess it to help with the decision making. And project workers Laura and Neil will then be taking a group of young YAB members to the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London on December 5 to hear if they have won the award and attend the presentation ceremony. The award is open to any voluntary or community organisation that works with people aged 11 and 25. Winners will be shortlisted in four categories - three regional and one national. There will be a winner for each category with the winners receiving a cash prize. Steven Pryse, Youth Participation Development Officer for NCVYS, said: "There was a phenomenal number of exceptional nominations this year and shortlisting was incredible difficult, provoking much debate. "I am sure we will have a very worthy winner from the worthy projects shortlisted." When choosing a winner, judges will be looking for projects that involve young people at all levels of decision making, are easy for young people to access, offer opportunities equally and fairly, value the contribution young people make and give young people the chance to evaluate.

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VOICE OF THE YOUNG: Some of the young members of the Youth Advisory Board