Youth Voices Connect Podcast: Recent Episodes
Youth Voices
A platform for young people, by young people. We discus, debate and share perspectives all the things that matter to young people in today's new emerging world.
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The Youth Voices team spoke with Festus Akinbusoye on why he has chosen to run as a candidate in the next Police and Crime Commissioner Election for Bedfordshire, which is taking place on Thursday 6 May 2021.
He shared with us his views on stop and search, volunteering as a special constable, and undertaking a years worth of duties in 3 months. The impact of drugs and youth violence, early intervention programmes and the power of positive thinking and most importantly how he would help to turn over the town of Bedford by creating employment opportunities for Young People in the office of the PCC.
If elected as the next Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus has said he will:
Invest to bring back community-based policing for both our urban and rural communities.
Tackle drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and the causes of these crimes.
Support law-abiding citizens' rights to a peaceful life in our county and put victims' needs first.
Lead a multi-agency approach to early intervention and tackling re-offending.
Lead an open and transparent policing area.
Police and Crime Commissioners are elected to hold your police force to account for delivering the kind of policing you want to see.
Their aim is to cut crime and to ensure your police force is effective. PCCs bring a public voice to policing and they do this by:
Engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set police and crime plans;
Ensuring the police force budget is spent where it matters most;
and
Appointing, working with, and where necessary, dismissing the Chief Constable.
Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are elected by the public to ensure the policing needs of your community are met as effectively as possible, and to oversee how crime is tackled in your area.
https://www.fest4bedspcc.co.uk/about-festus #youthvoices #yourvoicematters #thetownturnover #makebedfordbetter #fest4bedspcc
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The Youth Voices team reached out to speak with Kathryn Holloway, Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner as part of the initiative to hold 100 conversations with Bedfordshire's Afro-Caribbean community, following the Black Lives Matter protests of last year.
Following the Black Lives Matter protests last year, Kathryn set up an initiative called 100 conversations where she invited members of Bedfordshire's Black Afro Caribbean community to discuss their experience and thoughts on discrimination, and as the voice of younger people is often unheard Youth Voices contributed to these discussions and then invited Kathryn to be interviewed on the Youth Voices Connect podcast.
The role of the Police and Crime Commissioner is to be the public's voice when it comes to policing Bedfordshire, setting our priorities for the Chief Constable and Force to deliver in a strategic plan and holding the Chief Constable to account and we wanted to find out more about the role of The Police and Crime Commissioner how The PCC is responsible for directing the spending of a £100M budget supporting the Victims of Crime and increasing security through the distribution of community grants to partner agencies through the Community Safety and Victim Support funds, which included funding of the Youth Voices OutReach project.
Listen to our discussion with Kathryn, and how she has implemented some of our suggestions to help improve how Bedfordshire police its young people.
100 HOURS to enhance confidence and trust in Bedfordshire Police - Listening to our Black communities report:
"As Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, I made a commitment to reach out to the county’s Black communities in my Police and Crime Plan of May 2016.
While I have made many contacts - and built friendships as well as professional alliances - within such communities since coming into my role, the death of George Floyd made me realise that I had not succeeded in giving a voice as widely as possible to those who are not already established partners of Bedfordshire Police in respect of their experiences and attitudes towards policing.
I wanted to hear directly, in person, from as wide a sample of our Black residents as possible to learn their own suggestions of ways in which we could enhance their relationship with policing in Bedfordshire and, potentially help to do so across the police service more generally in England and Wales. This is the reason that I committed, as a key priority of my term - and time - during 2020-21, to devoting 100 Hours to produce this report in collaboration with the widest possible cross-section of Bedfordshire’s Black and Mixed Race residents.
These conversations, with individuals aged from 15 to 80, took place with me between July 2020 and the end of January 2021."
https://www.bedfordshire.pcc.police.uk/fluidcms/files/files/PUBLIC---The-100-Hours-Report---FINAL.pdf
In next week's episode, we speak with Festus Akinbusoye the candidate for the May 2021 Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner election.
yourvoicematters #thetownturnover #makebedfordbetter #100conversations
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Bedford Open Door discussion with parents and carers.
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We hear from Lily on her experiences with counseling with an ASC and ADHD diagnosis
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Member of Youth Parliament Voting 2021, Who will you vote for?..
Jeslyn (@rawr.c0re) is a member of the Bedford Youth Cabinet (@youth.cabinetbb), we spoke with her to find out what inspired her to run for election as the Bedford candidate for the UK Youth Parliament and how more young people in Bedford can get more involved and have their voices heard.
"The UK Youth Parliament makes sure Children and Young People across the United Kingdom have the opportunity to have their voices heard and to make a difference.
Every Local Authority in the United Kingdom has elected representatives and Bedford Borough is looking for our next Member of Youth Parliament. 19 Young People (candidates) have put themselves forward and it is down to you to vote for the person you think has the right skills, knowledge and experience to put Bedford Borough on the map.
Each candidate has written a short paragraph about why they feel they are the best person for the job; have a read and vote for the person you would like to be our next Member of Youth Parliament. You can only vote once; so choose wisely.
Read all the candidate manifesto's here .. and cast your vote!!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BBMYP2021_VOTE
VOTING RULES:
-You must be aged between 11-18 to vote in these elections.
-You must live, work or study within Bedford Borough.
If you have any questions about the United Kingdom Youth Parliament, the Engagement and Development Team or these elections please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team on voice@bedford.gov.uk"
StayConnected #YouthVoices #YourVoiceMatters #Vote #UKYouthParliament
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EP #9 In this episode, Out of this world, into the Mind the participants taking part in the Bedford College, Princes Trust Team programme and their tutor Mark discuss their views and thoughts on everything from Mental Health, Independent Living, Elon Musk, Asteroids, Managing Finances, Being an Adult to Dreams and Future Aspirations ... Thank you to Bedford Open Door for providing the space to host this episode. Bedford Open Door (@opendoor120) is a charity providing FREE and confidential counselling to young people aged 13 - 25. #YouthVoices #YourVoiceMatters #YouMatter #PrincesTrust #Team #OpenDoor120 #BedfordCollege #MentalHealth #WellBeing
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The episode that never was .... tune in to find out why?!
YouthVoices #YourVoiceMatters #UseIt
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EP# 8 In this episode recorded just after the BLM protests, Aidan, Aaron, Prince and Max talk about what freedom really means to young people living in today's new emerging world! #StayConnected
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EP #7 - In this raw honest and open discussion the Youth Voices Connect team discuss how mental health provision and delivery of services for young people could be improved to provide a more proactive approach and highlighted the need for dedicated engagement within schools, allowing young people to access services and/or support more easily.
The PAC-MAN analogy was used to describe feelings when someone is not able to express emotions. We then go onto discuss solutions and positive coping mechanisms which young people can employ to help them find a safe haven in times of need. The team shared "Everyone has got internal battles they are fighting" and every young person should get the mental health support they need, when they need it!
It's important to know that you are not alone, please always reach out and talk with someone you can trust, and please let your friends know that you are there for them. #StayConnected!
This episode was sponsored by Bedford Open Door (@opendoor120)
Bedford Open Door is a charity providing FREE and confidential counselling to young people aged 13-25.
WorldMentalHealthDay2020 #YouthVoices #YourVoiceMatters #Connect #Conversations #WellBeing #WMHD2020 #PacMan #MentalHealth #YoureNotAlone #YouMatter #StayConnected
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EP #6 - The Great 2020 GCSE & A Level Shambles continues ... We spoke we Aidan, Aaron, Melvin, Prince, Kyron, Max & Skye about the controversial algorithm debacle, it was felt there are undercurrents of classism and racism in how the Government and Ofqaul have use algorithm to determine exam results. We can all agree this has been an absolute shamble as we discuss on this episode and the A level results received and predicted GCSE grades If you would like to share your views and/or be a guest on the next episode to be recorded post GCSE results, please send us a message to get involved! @youthvoicesconnected #YouthVoices #McFamily #YourVoicesMatters #GCSE #ALEVEL #DEBACLE #OFQUAL #GCSEResults #ALevelResults #Confusion #StayConnected
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The Great GCSE Debacle and discussion on how the exam grades are being decided in England this year, mock grades make a mockery of exams was the headline in The Guardian this week. Ahead of the GCSE results being publishes next week, we spoke with our 16yr old co-host Skye about her experience as a GCSE student during the Covid pandemic and how she feels about the process and her upcoming results. We also asked our Instagram followers to let us know their views on the great GCSE debacle on how schools, colleges were asked to predict grades and the process that were used to decide Here is what they said! @izzy_wizz04 Would be higher or lower than predicted. They were too indecisive about who was actually deciding the grades. @tescocornflakes Ofqual admitted that they were going to give schools in deprived areas lower grades. If they are aware of this depravity then why are they feeding into it rather than helping the students that'll struggle at these underfunded schools @zaynxsx It’s going to be unfair, there is no fair way to do this, I just hope that the government doesn’t do what I think they will. Which is private schools, well funded schools, with a higher white population having better results than public schools who have diverse students. Especially since BAME students have less chance of going to the college/universities of their choice. @acesophface I understand it would look weird if someone got a 3 in their mocks and then was predicted a 7 by their teacher but people from the exam board weren't there with the student every lesson and every exam and hasn't seen their best non-exam work. But teachers have.
Youth Voices Connect is a platform for young people run by young people, we discuss debate and share your views, your ideas and your perspectives on the things that matter most to you with co-hosts Skye (16) and Max (15). Young people are the future, never before has there been a more important time in history for young people to makes their voices heard. You matter, your voice matters, what you have to say counts - make your voice heard!
If you'd like to get involved with future podcasts then please send us a message info@youthvoices.co.uk
We hope you enjoyed this episode, please do subscribe, like and share and leave a little review.
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EP #5 - We spoke with our co-host Skye about her exciting new business venture. Out of boredom due to the lockdown measures, she chose to do something productive with all this free time and created her brand on etsy named ssbeautyx, selling hand made lip gloss and lip scrub bundles.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ssbeautyx
As the economy starts to reopen slowly and with many businesses closing down, many young people are concerned about the future. How many people are now considering creating their own economy like Skye and starting a business?
If you're a young entrepreneur with a story you'd like to share similar to Skye's, then make sure to get in touch!
@youthvoicesconnect
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EP #4 - A conversation with Max where he shares what he has learned from the wisdom of his Mother and the meaning behind "Don't cast your Pearls before Swines and how the world and our lives might be different if we listened to and took on board the wisdom of our parents.
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EP #3 - To empower and create meaningful through knowledge, to create a better future for everyone! Youth Voices Connect spoke with 3 formidable young leaders from Bedford to discuss standing up and coming together as a community to challenge the status quo. Listen in to hear how Aimee 17yrs, Claire 13yrs and Skye 16yrs are working to eradicate racism and make an impact! Stay connected: @youthvoices.connect.podcast #YouthVoices #Connect #SpeakUP #SpeakOUT #BlackLivesMatter #YouMatter #WhatYouSayMatters
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An exciting new platform for young people, by young people. We discus, debate and share perspectives all the things that matter to young people in today's new emerging world.
Never before, has it been a more important time for young people to make their voices heard and challenge the status quo
Please like, subscribe and share with a friend and send us a DM if youd' like to get involved!
Stay connected @youthvoicesuk
YouthVoices #YourVoicesMatters #YouMatter
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youth-voices/message
EP #2 - Youth Voices Connect sat down with Aaron, Aidan, Ben, Melvin, Prince, Elizabeth, Emme and Simeon at The Black Lives Matter protest on the 13th June to find out how they're choosing to become agents of change and leaders in fight to end racism. Each shared their own personal experiences of racial behaviours and discrimination as young people living, studying and working in Bedford, but more importantly how they're all working together towards creating meaningful and lasting change in their community and beyond!
Stay connected: @youthvoicesuk
YouthVoices #Connect #SpeakUP #SpeakOUT #BlackLivesMatter #Solidarity
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youth-voices/message
EP #1 - The Black Lives Matter protest on the 13th June, organised teenagers 15yr old Elise and her friend Genna (@impact.beford) saw Bedford's young people came out in force showing solidarity to collectively take a stand against racism.
Youth Voices Connect sat down with Aaliyah, Charlie, Joe, Lucy, Naomi, Nathan, Shae and Tkayla who each shared the reasons for attending the protest and their own personal experiences of racial behaviours and discrimination as young people living, studying and working in Bedford, but more importantly how they're all working towards creating meaningful and lasting change!
YouthVoices #Connect #SpeakUP #SpeakOUT #BlackLivesMatter #Solidarity
@youthvoicesuk
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An exciting new platform for young people, by young people. We discus, debate and share perspectives all the things that matter to young people in today's new emerging world.
Never before, has it been a more important time for young people to make their voices heard and challenge the status quo!
If you like what you hear, please remember to like, share and tell a friend.
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Stay connected: @youthvoicesuk
Music by: @coyotehearing
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youth-voices/message