Tiffany Williams

YMP for Oxford City in 2008

Tiffany on election night

Since the election: What I've been up to!

Hi, everyone! I've been zooming around to different places this year, meeting some amazing people and learning a lot. I've met Andrew Smith MP and a number of councillors who were really open to young people's issues, as well as getting involved with the Youth Forums which is always educational! My focus for Oxfordshire is on Disability Awareness and so my pet project is a website promoting this. However, I'm also getting involved in the Votes for 16 and Mind Matters campaigns for the region. But I'm always interested in the small stuff as well as the big stuff so don't hesitate to contact me!

Tiffany was elected Oxford City MYP in January 2008

Tiffany was elected YMP to Oxford City in an unfortunately uncontested election. Lisa Banerjee, the close third in the South and Vale election received an appointment as her deputy. Tiffany ran on a platform of:

HEALTH EDUCATION: To get the real facts about disability, mental health, diet and exercise.
THE ENVIRONMENT: For sustainable products, further recycling and better public transport.
THE FACTS FROM CITIZENSHIP: To learn about things that we need; politics, economics and life skills.
SAFETY: So bullying can end, and people can feel safe in school, at home and outside.
Also campaigning for: Better media representation, reduced tuition fees, vocational education and community cohesion.

You can see her Poster and Manifesto.

She was helped in her campaign by the Vote for Tiffany facebook group.

Tiffany Williams - Manifesto 2008

A Fair Image For Young People

It is important that the positive sides of young people are shown against the negative stereotyping within and without the media. A youth related column within a local or national newspaper that is not only about entertainment would improve public opinion by presenting an unbiased point of view. Overall, more needs to be done to improve the relationships between young people and the media, including encouragement to work with them.

Appreciation of Culture

Stereotyping of cultures frequently results from little true understanding of these cultures. Therefore, it is necessary that children and young people are informed early on about the diverse cultures that exist within British society, especially through first-hand information but with a variety of interesting forms. It is important that young people are made aware of the opportunities that are already available to do this.

Youth Sport Matters

A wide range of fitness activities to suit all sporting abilities should be made available to combat the rising trend of obesity. Sport and leisure centres and schools should both help to provide these activities in such a way that the opportunity to get fit is available without a high cost. Said sports facilities should also be of a good and safe quality as more people will want to uses them. It is important that young athletes receive support for their goals, and, at the other end of the spectrum, that young people who struggle with PE and fitness are not berated.

Stay Safe

Bullying is an extremely important issue that needs to be tackled for the sake of the bully as well as the victim. Support should be given from schools to both parties but students who bully other students should also have to face consequences for their actions. The school’s bullying policy could be recorded and monitored by Ofsted so that bullying cannot be allowed to escalate. Further education about minority groups should also help to combat bullying over race, sexuality or disability, while at the same time people who are bullied for different reasons are given equal attention.

Make a Positive Contribution

Citizenship lessons should include the following:

Basic Politics e.g. Government system, party fundamentals.
Drug and Sex Education, involving peer education and other experienced speakers to engage learners.
Disability Awareness e.g. Introduction to common disabilities such as blindness, deafness, wheelchair use, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, dyslexia, etc.
The Environment

Get in touch and ask questions

Contact Tiffany directly on tiffany.williams@oxfordshire.gov.uk

You can also find out more from Oxford City Youth Participation worker Emily Whitehall-Chaundy on Emily.whitehall-chaundy@oxfordshire.gov.uk .