4. WORKSHOPS 4.3 Engaging Young People Facilitator: Jennifer Mullis, DfEE Presenters: John Roberts, Community Education Adviser, Walsall Janet Madeley, Nasar Ali and Amin Ahmed, Walsall Youth Congress Walsall Youth Congress The Walsall Youth Congress is the voice of young people in the borough, with a full-time support worker and funding from NACRO and the Single Regeneration Budget. A Charter makes clear that young people are entitled to have a say in matters that affect them in the city. All young people between the ages of 11 and 25 are entitled to be members of the Congress and all are encouraged to participate in activities. The Congress is still developing but has made a very good start in engaging young people and raising their profile in the borough. Issues Issues discussed included: the need for adults and young people to work together on issues involving youth the need for a long-term strategy and framework for engaging young people - radical solutions are needed to reach the disaffected the effectiveness of the Congress in raising the self-esteem of the young people involved the increasing use of focus groups by DfEE to engage young people - further ways of involving young people in policies are being investigated and proposed the importance of the Congress' participation in the Learning Alliance - it is early days but this should help it to influence the Learning Partnership the effective contribution made by two young people on the SRB objective 5 Board.