Beacon Council for Positive Youth Engagement in the Community and Democratic Process
Gateshead Council, in partnership with Connexions and the Children’s Fund, has recently become a Beacon Council for "Positive Youth Engagement in the community and democratic process". The council is one of only eight in the country to receive Beacon status and will hold the award until June 2007.
The award highlights good practice within local councils, which has lead to real results for the lives of local young people. To obtain Beacon status, councils must also demonstrate that they have good overall council performance and not just in the service for which the status has been awarded.
Beacon status is granted by the new Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG ). The scheme is central to the Government's agenda for modernising local government. Its main aim is to help local government and its partners learn from local authorities that have developed centres of excellence and quality service.
Throughout the Beacon year the council hopes to further develop opportunities to engage young people and offer a series of learning activities such as open days, seminars, mini visits and presentations.
Look out for our new dedicated interactive weblog, fully developed by young people and detailing all activities relating to our Beacon year.