BME Youth Link Up Programme

Link-up Logo

BVSNW in partnership with the Cardiff Young People’s Partnership has developed this programme to increase BME youth participation in Cardiff. The programme is to run over a period of two years and commenced in March 2007. It is managed by a steering group consisting of representation from Save the Children, Barnardos Neville Street Project, Cardiff Communities First BME Scheme, Cardiff Youth Service- the Butetown Youth Pavilion and the Social Inclusion Project.

Its main aims are to bridge the gap and work as a catalyst between BME young people aged 11-25 and decision makers, public bodies and service providers to encourage dialogue, consultation and influence strategies and policies. Thereby providing an opportunity for meaningful engagement in local democracy for these BME young people in Cardiff. It is a city wide project that aims to develop and support a core group of BME young people who will be responsible for the planning, organisation and delivery of a minimum of 6 participatory consultation events and information workshops targeting 60-100 young people.

The principle behind the project is that all the work is led by BME young people.

The programme was officially launched on 28th March 2007 at the Temple of Peace, Civic Centre in Cardiff, where a number of organisations and young BME people from Cardiff came together to find out what the programme could offer them. The young people also participated in fun workshops to put across their ideas of what they wanted from the programme and how it could help them. Some of the ideas that came across were:

  • The need for good role models
  • Improved facilities
  • Better and meaningful communication
  • More dialogue between young people and the service providers needed
  • Young people need to work together
  • Respecting the different cultures and communities in Cardiff

The programme aims to broaden the participation of BME young people and will focus on issues facing Asian young women and Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

Gareth Hicks, who is also a fluent welsh speaker, is the Youth Development worker based at BVSNW’s offices to undertake this programme. Therefore if you require any further information on the project, please contact Gareth on 029 20440182 or by email: g.hicks@bvsnw.org.uk