Knaresborough Youth Council

Knaresborough Youth Council was established in November 2024, with 11 members (with room for more), currently meeting monthly at Knaresborough House.

The youth council is to represent the interests, concerns and ideas of young people, allowing them to actively participate in decision making processes that affect their lives. The youth council aims to work closely with local authorities, organisations, and schools to advocate for youth – related issues, promote social responsibility, and develop projects that benefit both the younger population and the wider community. By fostering leadership, civic engagement, and team work the Knaresborough young council aims to empower young people to make a positive impact on their town and beyond.

Following the outcomes of the Knaresborough Youth Voice project and being informed members of the Knaresborough Community, the youth council are currently focusing on 3 campaigns, raising awareness of drugs and alcohol, protection the local environment through sustainable initiatives and promoting overall wellbeing of young people.

If you would like to stay up to date with everything that your Knaresborough youth Council is up to, please follow our Instagram @knaresborough_youth_council 

Would you like to hear more, stay up to date, get involved, or have an issue or concern that you would like the Knaresborough youth council to raise. Please get in touch by email youthcouncil@inspireyouth.uk or visit our Instagram  @knaresborough_youth_council.

Keep a look out for our recruitment events coming soon.

Alternatively you can download the New Members information pack here and return it to Inspire Youth Yorkshire Community Hub, 9-10 Halfpenny Close, Knaresborough HG5 0TG , email your complete application to youthcouncil@inspireyouth.uk or drop it at your school reception for the attention of Knaresborough Youth Council.

It was identified in Knaresborough Voice that young people had not been provided with the opportunity to contribute to the vision for the future. Inspire Youth Yorkshire have worked in partnership with Chain Lane Community Hub to secure funding from UK Shared Prosperity fund to establish a youth vision and voice for the future.

We engaged with King James School Student Council and Knaresborough Youth Council to establish a project where we could capture young peoples views on Knaresborough’s community, their vision for the future and their priorities.

We have engaged with 339 through a survey to understand young peoples views.

Download the findings here

Download the Youth Futures Artwork here

Watch the video here

Through our consultation we found that:

• 339 young people completed the survey.
• 50 (14.75%) young people identified as being from an Ethnic Minority.
• 330 of the young people were aged 12-15, meaning that there were gaps in age ranges
• Female and Non-Binary young people expressed more barriers and concerns within the survey then Male young people.
• 44% felt neither connected or disconnected to their community, 20% felt disconnected.
• 60% of young people felt that there were NOT enough opportunities within their community, while 50% felt there were not enough opportunities to socialise.
• More places for young people was identified throughout the survey, specifically to support community engagement and safety.
• Work experience was a key objective for young people to support their social skills and engage in the community.
• Young people identified places to support their physical health in the community, but they did not identify where they can get support for mental health and expressed lack of confidence as the biggest barrier for them.
• 63% of young people do NOT feel safe at night and highlighted better lighting as the biggest solution
• More then a 3rd of young people have experienced cyber bullying
• 62% of young people felt that the town did not take environmental issues seriously.
• Young people identified the town and scenery as their favourite part of Knaresborough which showed a pride in the place they live in.
• Finally, young people identified societal issues such as cost of living and the environment as the biggest priorities for the town to focus on above social opportunities an entertainment.

The next phase will see the Knaresborough Youth Council which is ran by Inspire Youth Yorkshire and Yorkshire CREATE and supported by Knaresborough Town Council, implement the artwork and findings to make the town more youth friendly.