GMYCA gather for annual AMPLIFY conference

Young people from across Greater Manchester have gathered together for the Youth Combined Authority’s (GMYCA) annual conference AMPLIFY.

Around 80 young people from dozens of local youth groups attended the GMYCA Amplify conference at The University of Bolton to showcase their achievements so far and further their work around improving work experience and access to health services.

During the day young people took part in two workshops.

The first focused on a Charter for Young People’s Health Services. The Charter has previously been developed by young people to ensure they are aware of their rights. The Health and Social Care Partnership would now like young people to be involved in its visual design and ensuring it is accessible to all young people. Ideas, solutions and actions were presented to a panel ‘Apprentice-style’ before being scrutinised by Greater Manchester’s answer to Alan Sugar.

Amy Garroch who was one of the hosts, and represents the Fire and Rescue Service on the Youth Combined Authority said: “It was of huge benefit for young people to come together and bounce around ideas and opinions to fully help understand how curriculum for life would impact and develop our future”.

The second workshop focused on developing standards for work experience to ensure employers offer opportunities that are meaningful and accessible for all young people. They used a ‘snakes and ladders’ game to determine the things that help them climb the ladder, and those that set them back.

At the end of the day, the young people presented their ideas to Councillor Rishi Shori, GMCA Lead for Young People and Cohesion, Sam Bolton from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and Nicola McLeod who is responsible for careers and work experience at the Combined Authority.

Rishi Shori said: “It’s fantastic that these young people have been given such a huge platform to express themselves and help bring about tangible change in their community.

“There have been some excellent discussions today and it’s clear the GMYCA members are all engaged and dedicated to making Greater Manchester a better place for young people to live and start their careers when they leave school”.