Fenland youth council members launch new independent group

A group of Fenland students are continuing their efforts to represent 20,000 young people in the area after launching a new group.

Members of the outgoing Fenland Youth District Council (YDC) fulfilled their mission to form an independent group when they launched the new Fenland Community Youth Council (FCYC) at the Boathouse Business Centre in Wisbech earlier this month.

The students have been planning to go it alone ever since Fenland Council withdrew funding to the YDC last year in order to save money.

New chairman Megan Dunthorne said although FCYC is independent, it will still consult Fenland Council on matters affecting young people.

She said: “Our main aim as an independent organisation is that we continue to be the voice of young people in Fenland.

“We need the Fenland Community Youth Council to be successful because it is important to the current young generation that we get our say, but it is also important for the future generations as what we do now will help shape their future.

“We will be consulting the Fenland Council with matters that affect young people, and we will be able to raise issues that they are not currently aware of. We will be able to give a different view on matters, as we see things differently to those above us.”

She said unfortunately the group will not be able to provide grant funds as before, but stressed “we are not going to abandon those who need extra support”.

“Instead of giving money we will go above and beyond expectation and give our time to support activities and events that will benefit young people in Fenland,” she said.

“We will be open to suggestions and ideas from others, and will always be there for young people who want to speak out about the things that affect them.”