How you really can make a difference (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

How you really can make a difference

3:01pm Monday 17th July 2006 in

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Children from across the district have been challenged to suggest ways of improving Bradford's image. The gauntlet was thrown down at a youth conference called Your Turn. ASIAN EYE went along.

A Pride of Bradford' television set and a chocolate factory in Lister Park are some of the ways Bradford can become a more attractive place to live and work in, according to a group of young Bradfordcates'.

The teenagers have all been involved in Your Turn, a campaign helping young people become tomorrow's leaders.

Organised by leadership support organisation Common Purpose and sponsored by Brunel Housing Association and Regen 2000, it's aimed at equipping teenagers with the knowledge and skills to bring about positive changes in society.

Youngsters taking part join a database of 17,000 Your Turn graduates used by organisations such as Bradford Centre Regeneration seeking young people's opinions.

Over the past year 90 pupils aged 13 to 14 from Bradford schools have taken part in three-day programmes involving role-playing, workshops with community and business leaders and visits to civic buildings and police stations.

The programmes focussed on influence' and change', looking at social exclusion, power and leadership and problems like litter and gang crime. Through taking on roles of police officers, council tenants and community workers, the youngsters have learned to see social problems from other perspectives.

"The aim is to inspire them to think in new ways about their district," said Your Turn programme manager Rosie Cottrell.

"Their opinions are expanding, they're influenced by the media, parents and teachers. Your Turn exposes them to new influences; the people making decisions affecting them, such as police, business executives and community leaders. Role-playing helps them step out of being a teenager to see other points of view. We're giving them access to people and places they wouldn't normally have contact with."

The programmes culminated in a Your Turn conference at Carlisle Business Centre, where the challenge facing 67 pupils from nine schools was: How can we improve Bradford's image?' It was set by Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group on Bradford Council.

The schools taking part were Tong School, Thornton Grammar, Salt Grammar, Parkside School, Greenhead School, Hanson School, Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College, Dixons City Academy and Grange Technology College.

At the conference the youngsters were split into groups, each working with representatives from organisations - Ashar Ehsan, head of corporate communications at the University of Bradford; Mary Dowson, project director at Bradford Community Broadcasting; Nadhia Hussain, area manager of Brunel Housing Association; Superintendent John Robbins from West Yorkshire Police; Pat Hinchliffe, member services manager from Yorkshire Building Society; Jane Vincent, director of Horizon Recruitment; Yemi Fagborun, executive director of the Peacemakers Project and Malcolm Veigas, head of services-markets at Bradford Council.

Each had one pupil from each school, so they were all strangers when the conference started.

They expressed their ideas through making sculptures using things like egg boxes and yoghurt pots.

The group working with Horizon Recruitment created a TV set showing Pride of Bradford, a TV channel focussing on the district's good points, to be broadcast in places like shopping centres. The Peacemakers Project came up with two flags representing peace and a multicultural Bradford, stressing that good leadership is needed to eliminate racism.

The group working with Yorkshire Building Society created a "perfect place to work" with buildings made from kitchen rolls representing attractive workplaces, a drinks can representing decent public transport and a "happy worker" made from a Pringle carton.

The university group created a news blanket' promoting a positive message about Bradford, while the group working with Supt Robbins came up with a chocolate factory to draw tourists and residents into the city.

The Council group focussed on Bradford's appearance; their three-storey model had bits of rubbish stuck to the bottom of a pole topped with a silver star. "As you move up the pole Bradford gets tidier. The star is what we should aspire to," said the group.

The BCB group created two sculptures, one a wheelie bin full of rubbish and one a communication mast, reflecting the importance of communication between communities to bring about change. Those working with Brunel Housing produced an "ideal house" with a litter-free garden.

Each group gave a presentation about their sculptures and Councillor Greenwood was impressed. He said: "We have to get away from negativity in Bradford. We're looking to you as the younger generation to bring peace and prosperity to this district. When I'm old and sitting in my bathchair I want to say it was this generation that took Bradford forward."

Also at the event were information stands set up by Bradford Food Bank, the Big Boost, Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust, the Big Summer team and the Children's University.

Your Turn participant Thomas Williams, 14, from Grange School said: "We're being consulted on decisions affecting us. Adults have the power to make decisions but we're the ones with new ideas."

Sam Jackson, 14, from Parkside School, Cullingworth, added: "It's good to meet people from different organisations and learn about what they do. My group made the news blanket', we want Bradford to have a more positive media image."

Nikasha Khan, 14, from Tong School said: "Today got us thinking about how we can get involved in society. There should be events like this in schools, things like drama workshops which are fun and help us come up with new ideas."

Your Turn benefits not just youngsters, but the organisations they work with.

"Young people develop skills in communication, leadership, decision-making, teamwork, problem-solving and presentation and work with senior decision-makers," said Rosie. "They learn how their community works, and raise aspirations and expectations of themselves and their communities. Their schools benefit from an innovative approach to the citizenship curriculum."

• Schools wanting to take part in next year's programmes should ring Rosie Cottrell on (01274) 375554.