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As a young person growing up in Arun you have the right to say what happens in the area and to let people know when you think things could be improved.
You have the opportunity to make a difference to young people in our district with many ways to get involved.
The aim of Arun Youth Council is to:
Arun Youth Council is one of the most active youth councils in the South East, bringing together many young people to create ideas about how we can make our area better. We are a body of students from high schools, sixth forms and colleges within the district including Angmering, The Littlehampton Academy, St. Philip Howard, Felpham Community College, The Regis School and Ormiston Six Villages Academy.
Each year we host the Arun Youth Conference, inviting 60 to 80 students from local schools to attend an event and discuss local issues affecting young people in the area. We also celebrate young people's achievements in the community through the Arun Youth Community Awards and host junior citizenship debates, and give young people the opportunity to find out more about the work of different council departments and talk to staff about their jobs.
Members of the parks and communications teams provide support to Arun Youth Council. Members also have an opportunity to work with the Chairman of Arun District Council and discuss ideas with elected members.
Overall, the group discussed the ideas of charity events, advertisement of charities (especially local/smaller ones) and advertising donating and volunteering in the area.
We advise schools to promote volunteering and donating within the school. We suggest that volunteering is promoted to try to get young people more involved in helping our community. Plus, promoting donations means it is presented that you do not need money to help, with the cost of living crisis it is harder for families to give money however clothes and objects can also be donated to certain charities. This could be done by asking representatives from different charities to come talk in assemblies.
Arun Youth Council hopes that with these guidelines that more young people will feel more invited to help in the local community giving hope to local charities and experience to the younger generation. We hope to get all schools involved in the guidelines so that we can build a stronger community. We feel these guidelines have many benefits to our community.
CONSTITUTION
1. The Name
The association’s name is the Arun Youth Council (hereinafter called the Youth Council)
2. The Objectives
The Youth Council’s objectives are to provide young people with the opportunity to:
3. Dissolution
In the event that it is necessary to dissolve the Youth Council, there will need to be a unanimous decision by a quorum (see 8.) of Youth Councillors to do so.
4. Amendments
Any provision contained in this constitution may be amended provided that:
5. Membership
6. Termination of membership/Removal of Officers from elected posts.
Membership is terminated if:
7. General Meetings
8. Quorum
Then the meeting shall be adjourned to such a time and place as the Arun Officer responsible for the Youth Council shall determine.
9. Chair
10. Adjournments
11. Votes
12. Positions within the Youth Council
1) The Youth Council shall always have the following:
2) Other positions to be voted in (depending on nominations) at an annual general meeting include;
3) A Youth Councillor can stand for another position different to those identified above provided that they are nominated by at least one Youth Councillor to do so and that the position identified is supported as beneficial to the Youth Council by the Chair/Vice-Chair
4) Those elected in the positions identified above shall form a ‘Management Team’ who shall meet outside of general meetings in order to agree work and set priorities, organise special events, and input into the process of agenda setting for general meetings. Any member of the Youth Council may be invited to attend this meeting if required, or can request to attend through the Chair/Vice-Chair provided they state their purpose for doing so.
5) The Chair and Vice-Chair positions may not be occupied by students from the same school.
13. Election of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and positions on the Management Team.
1) Elections shall take place at every Annual General Meeting or earlier if;
(a) A current post holder leaves the Youth Council or does not wish to continue in the post
(b)The current post holder is considered unsuitable for the post and is subject to the conditions set out in part 6 of this constitution
In the event of the above the post may be filled at a subsequent general meeting.
2) Each year it is anticipated that the Vice-Chairman shall be the Chairman for the following year subject to election by the Youth Council unless;
3) In order to stand for an elected position within the council an AYC Councillor must have attended the two previous general meetings of the Youth Council. Unless unable to due to ill health.
4) In order to stand as Vice-Chairman whether at an Annual General Meeting or General Meeting a Youth Councillor must nominate themselves and will then be voted on by the youth councillors at the AGM.
5) In the event that the Chairman departs prematurely for any of the reasons outlined in part 6, the promotion of the Vice-Chairman to this position will be automatic and the new Chairman will be expected to continue as Chair for a full calendar year following the subsequent Annual General Meeting.
6) Each Youth Councillor will have one vote for each nominated position. In the event of a tied vote, the Chair will have the casting vote as outlined in part 12(1)
14. Responsibilities and rights of the Youth Councillors and Arun Officers
1) The Chairman has the responsibility to;
(a) Chair the meetings of the Youth Council;
(b) Present the views of the Youth Council to the Arun District Council, external partners and to the wider community.
(c) Guide the development of future projects in cooperation with the involved Youth Councillors and the Arun Officer responsible.
(d) Delegate responsibility to other members of the Youth Council, as and where appropriate
2) The Vice-Chairman has the responsibility to;
(a) Chair the general meetings of the Youth Council when the Chairman is absent
(b) Support the Chairman in his or her responsibilities to further enhance the objectives in the constitution and the development of future projects.
3) The Secretary has the responsibility to;
(a) Keep minutes of all proceedings at general meetings
(b) Take notes of any other meetings that he or she may be present at concerning the work of the Youth Council
(c) To circulate any general meeting notes either via the Arun Officer(s) or directly to Youth Councillors
(d) To liaise with the Arun Officer(s) concerning the production of an agreed agenda for general meetings.
(e) In the absence of a dedicated Secretary another Youth Councillor can agree to take on this role on a meeting by meeting basis. In the absence of any Youth Councillor the Arun Officer(s) will be expected to perform the role of Secretary.
4) The Communications Officer has the responsibility to;
(a) To inform and educate as wide a section of the community about the work of the Youth Council.
(b) To liaise with the Communications Officer at Arun District Council concerning communications issues.
(c) To ensure that external communications channels such as social media are used in line with Council Policies.
5) Any other elected officer has the responsibility to;
(a) Carry out his or her duties in line with the objectives of the Youth Council and in line with the policies of Arun District Council.
6) All Youth Councillors have a duty to notify the Arun Officer(s) responsible for the Youth Council, of any meetings or contact with other Council Officer, external organisations and stakeholders so that there is a record of involvement.
7) It is the responsibility of the Arun Officer(s) to;
(a) Encourage elected officers of the Youth Council to engage with the relevant internal and external partners by assisting in organising meetings or providing contact details.
(b) To do all that is possible to further the interests of the Youth Council
(c) To hold a list of contact details and emergency contact details for all Youth Councillors
8) It is the responsibility of all Youth Councillors to:
(a) Ensure that their personal contact details and emergency contact details are kept updated by providing the most up to date information to the Arun Officer(s) for their records.
(b) To act in a reasonable, sensible and appropriate manner when attending meetings or representing the Youth Council at events.
9) It is the right of every Youth Councillor to;
(a) Have the opportunity to meet with or contact the relevant Arun Officers, Councillors and external organisations.
(b) Have the opportunity to make recommendations to the Management Team, Youth Council and Arun District Council on any issue they consider of importance or significance.
15. Change of Arun Officer(s)
1) In the event of a change of post holder supporting the Youth Council, members of the Youth Council are to be consulted when deciding his/her replacement.
Amended 3/7/2023 at Youth Council AGM