I am not an Organisation nor am I a Company, just an ordinary single Mum to three teenagers of whom I am very proud, but as I watched the news reports of the riots in horror along with the rest of the country back in the 'Summer that was' these events along with the political responses which followed ignited a passion in me that up until that point had laid dormant.
I happen to be the least technically-minded person I know so when I set-up a new Community Facebook Page called 'Name & Fame Young People To Be Proud Of' in reaction to the riots I really was stepping-out of my 'comfort zone '! Here anyone can post a comment about a young person they are proud to know and help redress the balance and 'celebrate the fabulousness' within our Young Community.
The young people involved in the rioting are in a minority and as the teenage years are hard enough as it is without Society alienating young people further It is important to me that the Young Community are not all 'tarred with the same brush' and viewed with suspicion. Speaking of which, just over a week after the riots ended David Cameron chose to point the proverbial finger of blame at single parents but my 19 year old daughter Alethea who comes from one of these so-called 'broken' families had been on standby as a Special Police Officer for all that week! What politicians need to do, is ask. Ask what young people would like to see happen, how they would like to see their futures taking shape and what positive change can the Government make in order that the Next Generation are equipped to realise their potential. I propose a 'Young Peoples Wish List' - a list compiled by all pupils in all Secondary Schools outlining the needs for their future as our young people see it to be handed in to the Government.
Not long after the riots ceased the A Level results came out and the question was asked 'are these exams getting easier?' what a cynical view we portray back to our young people that we cannot 'pat them on the back' accepting their achievements and say 'Well Done!'
As I see it what this country needs is a 'Young People Pride ' Campaign to include the 'Young Peoples Wish List' and the obligatory inscribed rubber wristbands to be made available for all to wear with PRIDE.
Surely if certain sections of our society can gather momentum and enough support to stage a static demonstration then we as parents, grand-parents, adults, aunts, and uncles, politicians, teachers, youth workers and all members of the Community and Society as a whole can muster up enough enthusiasm for our young people. 'Young People Pride' expressing a solidarity across the generations, a celebration of all our young people and their achievements and allowing the 'voice' of the next generation to be heard.