The government’s Education Committee http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/news/online-forum/ has launched an online forum http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Parliament_wants_your_view in partnership with The Student Room http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk to aid its inquiry into services outside of school for young people aged 13 to 25.
The inquiry has teamed up with the 500,000 strong online community The Student Room, to offer young people the opportunity to make their voices heard via an online forum. They are being asked to discuss questions including the kind of organised activities that they attend outside of school, such as sports or music projects, or youth clubs; if they volunteer; if they’ve set up their own project or have any new ideas about how services could be better run; if they would be interested in a summer programme for 16 year olds leaving school; and how they would spend money for young people in their area if they were in charge.
Graham Stuart, Chair of the Education Committee, said: "The committee wants to consult those who really know which services are most important – young people. We are therefore delighted to be able to collaborate with The Student Room to seek the views of a wide range of young people across the country, and we urge young people to go online and contribute."
It is hoped that the partnership will help inform the committee about which services young people use.
Jamie O'Connell, Marketing Director for The Student Room, said: "There is a tremendous breadth of services for young people in the country, many of which provide a vital contribution to local communities and the contact that young people have with these organisations, and in some cases volunteers, can be life-changing. We’re very pleased to help the Education Committee with this consultation and will encourage our diverse community to get involved."
The new site went live on Wednesday 2 March and young people are encouraged to contribute by visiting The Student Room. http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Parliament_wants_your_view