Agenda item

Simon thanked the Youth forum for inviting him to their meeting and gave an outline of his purpose today at the Youth Forum. Simon is interested to get young people’s views on Covid 19 Lockdown, especially use of social media etc.

          Q1. Lockdown – for young people during Lockdown was mental health and wellbeing an issue?

•         Mary said lack of motivation, no structure to the day, deadlines were not met as no motivations to do so.

•         Charlie said that friendships – missed friends, not always in the same group and new other students in different years.

•         Morcea advised that Refugees / Asylum seeker young people encounter loneliness –

Covid v Racisms. Cllr Stone Youth Group working closely together.

Action: AL to send SA details of other Youth Groups

          Q2. SA asked if young people were struggling, what advice would you give them?

•         Talk to someone

•         Get help

•         Talk to a teacher

          Q3. SA asked do you feel the internet has been a help or a hindrance?

•         Help.

•         Kind of both

o        School work hindrance as keen to look at other apps rather than school work

o        Keeping in contact with friends and family – a HELP

SA asked the group if they have watched the Netflix film ‘Social Dilemma?  It is a top 10 film on Netflix, raises some interesting points, however also scare mongering, not of lot of input had been given by young people.

          Q4. What was/is the hardest part of Lockdown?

•         Charlie said at the start everything took longer, I was doing either all or nothing, finding it difficult to get a working pattern.  Compound effect was lack of motivation.

•         School provides routine structure

•         Positive out of Lockdown Charlie has started his on line website – Inspire your Future, 2 sessions weekly, Wednesday & Thursday, motivational speakers.    Action: SA to contact CA to discuss perhaps talking on one of the sessions.

SA advised that not everything had been doom and gloom, young people are passionate, interested and positive about lots of issues.

•         Alfie said that he found school work had been difficult at home, getting into a routine, it was a lot easier to do work at school rather than at home.

Q5. Covid – how do you feel the media / news has been reported?

•         Tabi said she had stopped watching the news as it had made her more worried as on all the time, gained information from school

•         Lissy said she had got bored of watching the news and generally went to the Government website for updates.

•         Charlie said that it did not always represent a true picture, what is really happening, some stories superficial. SA advised that 1/3 videos on You Tube re Covid had the wrong information and information on twitter reaches audiences 6 times quicker.

•         Mary said she tended to stay away from the news.

•         Simon said – Challenge What you See!

Simon thanked all for letting him join the meeting, lovely to meet you all.  AL offered SA the support of the Youth Forum if needed help for any filming.