Policy Forum

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Policy Forum will be held on Thursday 6 March 2008 at GARA in Bell Street, Glasgow.

For further information please contact Ian Hay, Senior Networks Officer.
Tel: 0131 313 2488
Email: ihay@youthlink.co.uk

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CONTEXT

The YouthLink Scotland AGM in November 2002 agreed governance changes which included the setting up of a Policy Forum. There was strong support for such a development, and there has been a high level of interest in membership of the Forum from across the youth work sector. Nominations were requested from member organisations, and elections for the Policy Forum were held in late summer 2003, and the Policy Forum held its first meeting on 22 September 2003.

One of the areas which has been a major focus of the Policy Forum's work programme is the Scottish Executive's National Youth Work Strategy. The Policy Forum was instrumental in producing the Statement on the Nature and Purpose of Youth Work, the Agenda for Action and the Youth Work Manifesto.

PURPOSE OF THE POLICY FORUM

The Policy Forum is the policy powerhouse of YouthLink Scotland, enabling wide-ranging discussion within its meetings and across YouthLink Scotland's membership. Through the Forum, YouthLink Scotland will review and promote research, keep abreast of international and national good practice, influence national policy and encourage good practice through published papers and other sources.

The overall aim of the Policy Forum is to support the development of coherent youth policy. This will be achieved by:

Identification and initiation of policy affecting young people and youth work.
Development of effective responses to consultations and debates affecting young people and youth work.
This will support YouthLink Scotland's aspiration to become the recognised leader within the field of youth work policy development.

The chair of the Policy Forum is Alison Davies and the vice chair Alan Small.

Policy Forum Planning Group
Alison Davies, Independent
Alan Small, Independent
Allister Short, Scottish Borders Council
Alistair Joss, Boys Brigade Scotland
Steven Greig, Youth Scotland
Ian Donaldson, Dumfries and Galloway Council
Ian Hay, YouthLink Scotland

REPRESENTATION ISSUES

Balance of membership

The Forum includes representation from the voluntary sector, from local authorities, the Scottish Youth Parliament and from Associate Members of YouthLink Scotland.

Criteria for membership

The main criteria for membership of the Policy Forum is that the member should:

Have a good understanding of the range of policy issues which affect young people, and the youth work sector.
Have the authority/mandate to speak on behalf of their organisation, signing up to joint policy and statements as appropriate.
Be able to give time to the work of the Forum. A minimum of four days per annum to attend Forum meetings plus any additional work on sub-committees, and on specific topics, as required.

Notes from previous meetings

2008