11 Million take over - will one of them be you?

"I'm too young to have my say"

Think again - on 7th November 2008 11 Million children and young people are taking over UK goverment and decision-making, local and national.

Want one of them to be you? It's easy:

• Think about how you'd like to be involved (perhaps talk it over with your youth worker?)
• Contact the 11 million Take Over team by emailing james.collins@oxfordshire.gov.uk
• Ask what's going on, or discuss your idea

Last year in Oxfordshire over 40 organizations/services took part on the day, including all Oxfordshire County Council Directors, the Children’s Hospital, the Fire and Rescue Service, Huntercombe Youth Offending Institute, lots of Schools, Youth Services and voluntary sector organizations.

This year is going to be much bigger!

Takeover Day 2008 - what's going on already?

Takeover Day 2008 is approachingfast, and there are lots of exciting plans for the day, including:

• Looked After C&YP are planning and delivering speeches with/for the Director of CYPFD at a regional ‘Care Matters’ Conference on Takeover Day
• YP have a daytime slot on BBC Radio Oxford – which will be theirs to plan and run - and they will be offered training and support by BBC Radio Oxford prior to the show
• Last year on Takeover Day, we held a debate between OCC Chief Executive and Directors of Services and a range of YP including YP on ASBO’s, focusing on Promoting Social Responsibility and Preventing Anti-Social Behaviour. It raised concerns regarding YP’s privacy, confidentiality, and public naming and shaming Following a letter from Joanna Simons to the Youth Justice Board raising these concerns, an invitation was received for YP to go and meet them in London on Takeover Day this year.
• A ‘Transport Summit’ (which is the major manifesto issue for Oxfordshire’s Members of the UK Youth Parliament this year), is being held with County Councilors, the Bus Companies and YP – focusing on transport issues for YP in rural areas and transport access for disabled C&YP
• The Sweaty Squidgers youth group in Wantage are taking over the complete running of their evening gig at the Youth Centre, and hope to attract between 300 - 400 teenagers. The group will be taking responsibility for promoting the special event, door and ticket sales, cloakroom, coffee bar, stage management, security, health and safety, first aid, Police/public liaison, accounts and dealing with any issues such as bullying, fights or alcohol abuse etc. The youth work team normally on duty will be on hand to observe and intervene – but only in the case of crises!
• The YP Advisory Group, YiPpEe, at the Children’s Hospital will be going to the School Senior Leadership meeting and the Children’s Hospital Operational Management Meeting (CHOMP), to see how their input last year has been used. They will be launching their page on the Hospital Website and working with the Media and communications Team writing an article for the ORH News magazine and Taking Photo’s of the Day. YiPpEe have asked if they can take over the Hospital Radio and they will also be taking over the school again, watching some lessons, teaching some lessons and teaching the Teachers.
• A Head of Service has invited a YP to shadow/work alongside her for the day
  The Fire and Rescue Service are running a review of their junior citizen programme to consider if there are new / alternative scenarios that might be beneficial. Some ex junior citizens will also be taking over running the scheme for younger children on the day.

If you know of other events, contact the 11 Million Takeover team (james.collins@oxfordshire.gov.uk ) to let us know what you’re planning and whether our Roving Reporters can visit your takeovers and interview you, the children and young people taking over and possibly film the activities going on!

Find out more about 11 Million Take Over

• Read last year's report from Oxfordshire
• 11 Million Take over on the Web