The Young Programme

Developing local
government talent

The first bookings have arrived from local authorities in England and Wales for the 2009 Young Local Government Programme. The three-day course at Lancaster in October will aim to enhance the professional development of people in the early stages of their career in local government, encourage their written and verbal communication skills and introduce them to fresh ideas and creativity.
The course will include debates and discussion, testimonies from guest speakers with extraordinary stories to share, and the presentation of argument papers by the delegates.

[click here] for further information

Helen Longworth and Kris Anderson

Kris wins Third Sector Young Thinker title

Kris Anderson of Dignity in Dying won the title Third Sector Young Thinker of the Year at Lancaster for what the adjudicator described as a 'beautifully written essay'. The runner-up was Helen Longworth of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Barbara Soetan of Changemakers was highly commended, while a commendation was awarded to Melissa Pritchard of the Marine Conservation Society.
     Eighteen young people working for charities in England and Wales were selected to take part in the competition at Lancaster.
     The charities represented were: Anthony Nolan Trust; Anti-Slavery International; Asian Foundation for Philanthropy; British Lung Foundation; Changemakers; The Children's Society; Dignity in Dying; Duke of Edinburgh's Award; Global Action Plan; Hansard Society; Leonard Cheshire Disability; Liberty; Marine Conservation Society; Mental Health Providers Forum; Muslim Youth Development Project; RSPB; UK Youth; Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
     Each of the delegates presented a six-minute paper arguing a case on a topic of current interest or controversy and then delivered a three-minute presentation without notes on a separate subject.

[click here] for report and the day in pictures
Winning paper to follow