A quick reminder that Pilton Youth & Childrens Project (PYCP) annual general meeting is on Friday (7 November) at 2pm in The Greenhouse. Details below:
Tag: youth
Get LOUD over homophobia!
North Edinburgh Young Peoples Forum member LAURA says we must speak out when we encounter homophobia …
How are the LGBTQIA* community portrayed in the media?
Society has certainly progressed in the acceptance of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex or asexual, but how do we portray them in media?
Many people are still offended by people identifying as LGBTQ, but with same-sex marriage being legalised in many countries and states, the media is starting to recognise and portray more LGBTQIA people in films and TV Shows.
However, if a character in a TV show is portrayed, for example, as being lesbian, their sexuality is almost always a huge part of the plot and they are commonly shown as having had many girlfriends just to prove that they are lesbian. The same goes for people being portrayed as gay.
But TV shows are reluctant to feature transgendered people, whether they are trans-male/trans-female or simply non-binary, and asexuals/aromantics are normally shown as people who haven’t ‘met the right person’.
However, while TV Shows and films are certainly improving the way they portray LGBTQIA people, some channels are still portraying them negatively.
Stonewall, a charity for LGBTQIA people, discovered that “Gay people and their lives are five times more likely to be portrayed in negative terms on the BBC” and that “BBC programmes frequently use gay sexuality for making jokes or as an insult, and rely heavily on clichéd stereotypes”.
In July 2010, Stonewall published research about representation in youth television: 49% of portrayal was stereotypical and 0.6 of the content they viewed portrayed LGBTQIA people ‘positively and realistically’.
So what is there to do about negative portrayal of the LGBTQIA community in media?
Obviously, you can complain to the television companies, but not a lot can come from a single complaint letter or e-mail. The key to making a difference is to get LOUD.
You can get into contact with various different charities, Stonewall is an excellent example of one of them, and organise a protest or campaign. You can get your friends and families all to write letters of complaint – the more the merrier. You can put what you’ve seen on the internet for the world to see. There are countless other ways to stop discrimination against LGBTQIA people, and its easy to get involved.
Whether you’ve read something homophobic in a newspaper or magazine, seen stereotypes of LGBTQIA people on TV, or heard something offensive on the radio, it’s easy to get involved, and it’s your responsibility. If everyone waits for somebody else to do it – nobody will.
You can see Stonewalls page about the portrayal of LGTQIA people in the media at: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/what_we_do/research_and_policy/2875.asp
Laura, North Edinburgh Young Peoples Forum
Pictures by Nicki and Josh (NEYPF)
* Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex and asexual.
Youth Parliament Chair encourages candidates to stand for election
‘grasp this opportunity to ensure young people are continually at the forefront of shaping our society’ – Louise Cameron, Chair SYP
The Scottish Youth Parliament elections will be held in March next year and the call is now open for young people all over the country to register their interest and stand as candidates to represent young people in their area.
The Scottish Youth Parliament is the democratically elected voice of Scotland’s young people and campaigns on a wide range of issues, and represents young people all over Scotland. It gives young people a national platform to voice their issues, turn them into positive actions, and influence Scotland’s decision makers.
To register interest to represent a local constituency, young people aged 14-25 should complete a Candidate Expression of Interest Form by Friday 31 October. Further information is available atwww.syp.org.uk/elections.
Louise Cameron, Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “During what is such an exciting time to be involved in the heart of Scottish politics, I am delighted to announce that the call for candidates is now open for the SYP Elections 2015.
“The Scottish Youth Parliament is an entirely youth-led organisation, and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament represent the views of young people across Scotland and strive to make a real difference by campaigning on the issues that matter the most to young people.
“Being a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament is a truly life changing experience. I would like to encourage young people from all over the country to consider standing as a candidate and to grasp this opportunity to ensure young people are continually at the forefront of shaping our society.”
Current Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) have produced a promotional video to encourage others to get involved in this opportunity to stand as a candidate and potentially become an MSYP.
The SYP Elections promotional video can be viewed at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdPFjHPgD6Q&list=UU3lS9jY21U4jVSnhYkAK3kw
PYCP set date for AGM
Pilton Youth & Children’s Project (PYCP) are holding their annual general meeting on Friday 7 November at 2pm in The Greenhouse – and you’re invited! See below for details:
For further information contact debbie@pycp.co.uk
or telephone 332 9815
www.pycp.co.uk
Be honest: what do you think of our young people?
Hi All,
We at North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum are carrying out a review of our group/projects/service.
The reason for our review is so that ourselves and others can see what we have achieved and what we haven’t managed to achieve, whilst also paving the way forward. Therefore, we are asking for 5 minutes of your organisations time to complete a short questionnaire (attached below) and then all you have to do is send it back to us.
NEYPF Organisations Questionaire
Please be honest, your feedback is important to us.
We would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone for their help and support, and an extra thanks to everyone who completes our mini questionnaire as part of the review and send it back over!
You can email it to neypf@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks
Kind Regards
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum
Scottish Youth Parliament needs YOU!
Hello YOUNG PEOPLE!
The Scottish Youth Parliament elections are being held in March 2015 where all Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs) will be elected from across Scotland openly, democratically, and at the same time between 2 – 11 March 2015.
Do you have the next Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament in your class, school group, community centre or youth clubs? Or could it be you?
All young people between the ages of 14-25 have the right to stand for election and so we’re hoping to capture input from young people willing to speak up and play their part in what’s happening around us!
Standing as a candidate is an opportunity for young people in your school and community to make a difference to their local area (and the country) and to ensure young people’s voices are heard by Scotland’s decision-makers.
If you know of any young person who might be interested in being elected as an Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, the deadline to register an interest in standing for election is 31 October 2014.
If anyone would like to get involved and/ or want to find out more, please contact Mary Mitchell from the Young People’s Participation Team via mary.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk or by phoning 529 2131. Or if you’d prefer to an informal chat on “your turf” before you progress anywhere please call me on 332 6316.
More information can also be found on the web at www.syp.org.uk, by tweet @Official SYP, or by visit syp.org.uk or a video promoting being a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament on the same website.
Callum McLeod
Broughton Community Learning & Development team
Your challenge: ‘make Scotland the best place to grow up’
Children & Young People’s Summit to build on referendum energy
Communities up and down the country have a role to play in truly making Scotland ‘the best place to grow up’, Education Secretary Mile Russell said yesterday.
Speaking at Education Scotland’s two-day Scottish Learning Festival at the SECC in Glasgow, Mr Russell announced that a Children and Young People’s Summit is to be held, to build on the “reaffirmed desire of millions of Scots to participate in democracy”.
Mr Russell said: “The people of Scotland have shown overwhelmingly that our community spirit and our desire to participate towards the betterment of the nation are stronger than ever.
“If the grassroots movements of the last two years – people of all parties and none – have shown anything, it is that what unites us all is a fervent wish for a better future for our children, our families and our communities.
“We have two things to do. We have to make sure – all of us – that promises made to the people of Scotland are honoured in full, within pledged timescales. Also, we have to move forward involving the whole of Scotland in decision making, including decisions that will improve life for children and young people in our own communities and beyond.
“To help that process on, today I’m announcing a Children’s Summit for Scotland. Bringing together children, young people, those who support them and wider civic society, this gathering will, I hope, be the beginning of a process that will see a Children and Young People’s Conversation take place around the country – harnessing the renewed interest in positive, energising, consented improvement that we’ve seen over the last two years.
“The Scottish Government will convene the summit but the participants will determine the most effective way to involve interested citizens at grassroots level in improving services for children and young people. Ultimately the Children and Young People’s Conversation will inform Ministers and drive improvement in community services for children and young people.”
The Education Secretary has asked Schools Minister Alasdair Allan and Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell to oversee the process.
Mr Russell added: “Right now our schools benefit from the participation of parents and teachers. Sports teams and youth clubs rely on dedicated volunteers and parents everywhere are active in their communities.
“But the reaffirmed desire of millions of Scots to participate in democracy could help transform our country for the better – and Scotland’s children and young people are rightly the main beneficiaries of this reawakened desire among the public to shape our national life.
“The challenges we face – and the obstacles to overcoming them – didn’t change last week. Our ambition remains undimmed and the challenge to our communities is clear – do your part to help make Scotland the best place to grow up.”
It’s all going on at Granton
The launch of a new website, a presentation on GYC’s peer education project and an address by Children’s Commissioner Tam Baillie are among the highlights of Granton Youth Centre’s annual general meeting on 26 September.
Full details below:
PYCP’s Gig Group to stage referendum sketch show
Pilton Youth & Children’s Project (PYCP) Gig Group is staging a drama sketch show about democracy and the independence referendum next week. Yes? No? Maybe So!! takes place in The Greenhouse on Tuesday (16 September) at 6.45pm.
Tickets are only 50p, and all proceeds go to a charity of the young people’s choosing – but hurry … places are strictly limited and tickets are selling fast!
“An outstandingly brilliant performance from the kids…this show will be a hit and these young stars will surely soon be appearing in West End shows…a must see!! ***** – PY Times
Now with reviews like that, can you afford to miss this show?
JASSing it up at Muirhouse
Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS)
Muirhouse Community Centre is pleased to confirm that the four Junior Award Scheme for Schools(JASS) clubs will start back on Monday (1 September) – see below for details. This is a joint venture with the City of Edinburgh’s C.L.D.
Each club has space for up to 16 young people in P4-P7. The young people in P4-5 will get the opportunity to start developing skills required to complete the JASS programme in P6. The P6-7 will have the opportunity to achieve the JASS programme in P6. The P6-7 will have the opportunity to achieve the JASS Bronze Award which is nationally recognised certificate.
The award is divided into 4 sections:
Group |
Time |
Begins |
Venue |
Monday JASS GroupP4-7 Girls |
6.00-7.30pm |
1st September |
MCC Youth Annexe |
Tuesday JASS GroupP4-7 Girls |
6.00-7.30pm |
2nd September |
MCC Youth Annexe |
Monday JASS GroupP4-7 Boys |
6.00-7.30pm |
3rdt September |
MCC Youth Annexe |
Thursday JASS GroupP4-7 Boys |
6.00-7.30pm |
4th September |
MCC Youth Annexe |
Reminder to the parents and boys and girls: The groups are free!
James McGinty, Muirhouse Community Centre