Blue Mountains City Council has secured a grant of $50,000 to deliver a Blue Mountains Youth, Environmental and Social Congress: For Young People by Young People.

Planned for early 2016, the Youth Congress aims to engage young people from across the Blue Mountains to lead ecological and social innovation, through community driven change that includes connecting young people with nature.

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill said, “I am pleased that local young people will have this opportunity. By organising the Youth Congress, with support from the Council, young residents can acquire various skills in areas such as project planning, leadership, decision making, community engagement, team building and communication. Such experience will help equip them with valuable skills for the future.”

The Youth Congress organisers will be trained in Leadership Facilitation by the award-winning organisation OzGreen. The not-for-profit organisation educates people around the world, enabling them to take action to improve their environment.

The first two days of the Youth Congress will be spent examining local social and environmental challenges, brainstorming solutions and using decision-making models to determine local projects that make a difference. Their ideas will then be presented to community and business leaders for their support and endorsement. The Blue Mountains Youth Council will be closely involved.

The project will be inclusive and aims to improve mental health outcomes for young people. Research has shown that contact with nature can help reduce the effects of many physical, social and wellbeing challenges faced today.

“The Youth Congress is a great chance for young people to build their capacity and shape their priorities,” said Cr Greenhill. “I encourage all young people in the Blue Mountains to be involved and have their voices heard.”

The grant is awarded by the NSW State Government Department of Family and Community Services, as part of the Youth Opportunities program.

The Christmas 'Giving Tree' project initiated by the Blue Mountains Youth Council attracted 60 donated gifts. These were then further distributed to young people for Christmas 2015, thanks to help from Platform Youth Services.

Thank you to all who were involved in the success of this project!

Season’s greetings,

It’s that time of year again, when family and friends get together and celebrate Christmas; however, for many of our young people this can be a time of sadness and loneliness. That’s why the Youth Councillors invite you to share the Christmas Spirit with the young people of the Blue Mountains who are in need of support. Please help us do that by launching our Community Christmas ‘Giving Tree’ project.

Date: Saturday, 28 November 2015

Time: 12 noon – 1:00 pm

Venue: Blue Mountains Theatre & Community Hub

Springwood Central Library

104 Macquarie Road, Springwood

We hope you can join us to launch the ‘Giving Tree’ project, hear special guests, enjoy some entertainment and refreshments, and meet the Blue Mountains Youth Councillors. We believe this would be a great example of the caring, united community we have here in the Blue Mountains.

We would also like to invite you to contribute by donating a gift and in exchange a decoration with your name and/or logo will be hung on the ‘Giving Tree’. All donations will be given to Platform Youth Services to distribute to young people in need. Preferred donations are gifts that any teenager would wish to receive for Christmas.

Some suggested items to donate (preferably gift-wrapped with a description to let us know what’s inside):

• toiletries such as body lotion, body spray and/or makeup;

• accessories such as hair clips, purses and trinkets;

• sports gear such as for cricket, soccer;

• music items such as iTunes vouchers, headphones;

• edible treats such as chocolates, biscuits;

• clothes such as socks, t-shirts.

If you require any further information, please contact Anita Kazis, Council’s Youth Services Development Officer, t: 4780 5680, or e: akazis@bmcc.nsw.gov.au.

Thanks and yours faithfully

Blue Mountains Youth Council

Blue Mountains Youth Councillors are now further empowered to inspire and support our local youth following their attendance at the 2015 NSW Youth Council Conference recently.

Hosted by the Eurobodalla Youth Committee, the successful conference was attended by 130 young people from various rural and city councils in NSW - all set on the stunning coast of the Bateman’s Bay region. Youth listened to inspirational guest speakers and discussed the needs of young people in their own communities. The theme for the conference was 'Create, Collaborate, Change'.

Seven Blue Mountains conference delegates - Lem Appel, Grace Faulder, Joey Jones-Romeo, Ruby Moria, Paul Mukhin, Sasha Titovs, and Brodie Wylde - developed their capacity to facilitate change in their communities; listened to the experiences of others already making changes, learned how to start community projects, and increased their knowledge about available resources.

These Youth Councillors will now share their knowledge with the other Blue Mountains Youth Councillors to enable the success of their future projects, with a focus on the local environment, social justice issues, and public art.

Blue Mountains Youth Councillor and conference delegate, Brodie Wylde, said, “An important part of working with our local youth is to create a sense of belonging, feel supported, feel safe and have fun together.

We are setting up practical and inclusive ways to do this so that we can all get together, do great activities, plus introduce improvements for the youth of the Blue Mountains.”

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said, “I am excited and encouraged by the energy and vision of the new Blue Mountains Youth Council.

I have no doubt their efforts will build on their predecessors and create positive change for young people in our City.”

To see videos and photos of the conference event and find out more about the Youth Council, follow them on Facebook by searching ‘Blue Mountains Youth Council’. You can also see more online at http://bluemountainshaveyoursay.com.au/youthcouncil

Photo: Blue Mountains Youth Council delegates and guardians worked hard and had plenty of fun at the 2015 NSW Youth Council Conference in the Eurobodalla Shire (L-R) Lem Appel, Joey Jones-Romeo, Paul Mukhin, Brodie Wylde, Grace Faulder, Anita Kazis, Sasha Titovs, Kees de Koster and Ruby Moria.

Blue Mountains Youth Councillor Grace Faulder has been chosen to co-chair the 23 June 2015 Council meeting with the Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill.

The Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Van der Kley attended the May Ordinary Youth Council meeting as a member of the Youth Council's Advisory Committee. Cr Van der Kley assisted by drawing a random name from those Youth Councillors who put their names forward for the co-chairing opportunity.

Grace is a new, incoming Youth Councillor. A Springwood resident and student at Penrith Selective High School, Grace joined the Youth Council to become a voice for younger people in society.

"I participated in the YMCA NSW Junior Parliament and I've become a lot more passionate about issues that are important to me and this has given me enough confidence to believe that I can make a difference," said the fourteen-year-old.

"I believe that the Blue Mountains Youth Council will allow me to voice my opinion and take action on issues that are important in our community such as Youth Homelessness and I would also find others that have similar beliefs and passions," said Grace.

Everyone from the general public is welcome to attend the meeting, taking place from 7:30pm at the Council Chambers at 2 Civic Place, Katoomba. This Blue Mountains City Council meeting will welcome the new term of Youth Council and thank the outgoing Youth Councillors for all their good work.

Thanks for all the applications and keen interest! Stay tuned!

• 12-17yrs?
• Live in the Blue Mountains?
• Care about what’s happening for young people, the environment, your town or the future? 

Then you’re perfect for Youth Council!

Open to ALL young people between 12 and 17yrs living in the Blue Mountains . 

Click here to fill out the form.