Kirklees Together

Dewsbury has one of the youngest and most diverse populations of any town in the UK.  For this reason, we’re keen to make sure Dewsbury’s young people are represented as we plan for the town centre’s future.

Who are the Youth Voice Champions?

The Youth Voice Champions are a diverse group of young people who have volunteered to be more involved in our regeneration projects.

Its members are students at Kirklees College, recruited by members of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, with whom the council are working closely on all things Dewsbury Blueprint.

What’s happened so far?

The Youth Voice Champions have been given a walking tour of the ambitious transformations planned through the Dewsbury Blueprint.  They were invited to discuss lots of different aspects of our regeneration projects in Dewsbury, both offering their own perspectives and being able to pose questions and challenge us in return.

What happens next?

A member of the Youth Voice Champions, Anum Rehman, will also be a member of the Dewsbury Town Board, and will be heavily involved in our consultation around Blueprint projects.

Together with the Town Board, we’re looking at more opportunities for the Youth Voice Champions to network with other key players in the Blueprint, and help us improve the ways we engage with the public around the exciting changes.

Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Transport and ward councillor for Dewsbury East, says:

“Here in Dewsbury, we have one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the UK.  It’s incredibly important that we capture the views of our young people, and take them forward as we plan for Dewsbury’s future.  Essentially, they are Dewsbury’s future.

“As a council, we’re continuing to look at the ways we engage with local people on local projects, including major transformation.  We want to give everyone who lives, works or studies in Kirklees opportunities to have their say, and get involved in what our future looks like.”

Keith Ramsay, Chair of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, says:

“The Dewsbury Town Deal Board has recruited these Youth Voice Champions to help us find more ways to engage with young people in Dewsbury, and a wider cross-section of our local population overall.  Already they’ve shared some great insights and challenging questions, and there’s great value in what we’re doing here.

“These changes should be for everyone, and we’re committed and excited to keep working with the Youth Voice Champions going forward.”

Anum Rehman, Youth Voice Champion and new member of the Dewsbury Town Deal Board, says:

“I’m interested in future changes to Dewsbury, since it’s my hometown and the place I was raised.  I currently study public services, and I want my future career to be helping and protecting people in the community.

“Learning about the Dewsbury Blueprint and engaging with the Town Board, I felt heard and validated – as the youth of Dewsbury, we are valued enough to be informed, allowed to have a say and share opinions on the future of our hometown too.  I can see that these changes are being made for the youth of Dewsbury, the future of our society.”