Over 1,000 Year 8 students from secondary schools in Dover, Deal and Sandwich will be attending the first ever Dover District Youth Conference to explore issues ranging from online safety, relationships, gangs and crime, and substance misuse. The conference is being held on Tuesday, 6 March at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in Dover, and has been organised by Dover District Council and the Dover District Community Safety Partnership.
Cllr MJ Holloway, Dover District Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, and Chairman of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership, said: “Young people today are better connected than ever but this also exposes them to risks, from inappropriate social media posts, to the dangers of sexual exploitation.
“Society is also placing ever greater pressures on young people that can draw them into unhealthy relationships, drug or alcohol misuse, or even gang culture.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for young people to come together to explore some of these themes through a more creative process, involving real-life case studies, and reassurance too. Hopefully, they will leave with a greater awareness of the risks along with some practical advice and information.”
Guest speakers at the conference include:
- Paul McKenzie works with young people in south east London to educate them about the dangers of drugs, gangs, knives and guns
- Terry Heywood is a Substance Misuse Support Worker with Turning Point, a social enterprise which works with communities to support those affected by substance misuse
- Diane May is a counsellor and Children and Young People’s Manager with the Oasis Domestic Abuse Service.
The Dover Youth Conference provides opportunities for young people to engage and participate in a series of practical sessions designed by experienced presenters to get key message across and to help them get the most out of the day. Among the interactive sessions will be ‘Deal or No Deal’, and a new take on ‘Blind Date’. There will also be a special guest appearance by……….
Note to Editors
The Dover District Community Safety Partnership aims to maintain a safer, stronger community where it is safe to live, work and visit. It responds to identified local community safety needs and issues, and addresses the wider causes of crime and the fear of crime. The Partnerships current priorities are:
- Domestic abuse
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, including substance misuse, Prevent and mental health
- Anti-social behaviour
Members of the Partnership include Dover District Council, Kent County Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, NHS South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group, and the Probation Service.
Posted on 26 February 2018