South Ayrshire Youth Voice Pledge presented to Community Planning Partnership Board

South Ayrshire Youth Council presented the South Ayrshire Louder Together - Youth Voice Pledge at a meeting of the Community Planning Partnership Board on Thursday 29 January. Community Planning partners and senior decision makers were invited to sign up and commit to its principles.

The pledge highlights the importance of effective youth participation and outlines clear approaches for engaging with young people across services, reinforcing a shared commitment to involving young people in local decision making. It was co-created by young people alongside colleagues from Education and Thriving Communities, ensuring it reflects real experiences and expectations.

This builds upon the engagement work carried out in November, when young people, Elected Members and senior leaders came together to identify improvements to youth participation and agree next steps for embedding youth voice across local decision making.

By signing the pledge, partners commit to upholding the rights of young people - particularly Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognises the right of young people to be listened to and taken seriously.

Councillor Julie Dettbarn, Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Board, said: "Listening to young people and taking their views seriously is essential if we want to make the right decisions for our communities.

"The Youth Voice Pledge provides a clear and practical commitment for partners to strengthen how they involve young people, ensuring their voices are heard and respected in decisions that affect their lives."