Pressing Issues update

As you may remember, I have been running a small campaign for a bit called Pressing Issues. It's aim: to make people more aware of the stereotyping of youth in the media and try to do something about it. As well as this, shouting about the positive work of young people ourselves. Unfortunately, my pledge which I initially set up rather failed after a while. It's still open so please sign. I'll put the link at the end of this blog. 

Aside from the pledge, it seems that we may have to take matters into our own hands. I am setting up a new blog in which I will hopefully have other young people and myself writing about issues they care about and the positive work of youth. If you would like to write for this blog, I'll create a form to sign up and put the link at the end of the page. Hopefully, although I accept that it is a big challenge, it should work. There will be a range of topics which I will have to think of but this also shows off the positive writing talents of those involved. 

I have done blogging like this on my own in the past but it's much more effective collectively, rather than just one person. Nevertheless, it will also have reviews of things like books and films to make it interesting for all. I am also interested in sensible suggestions for names. I am going to call it something but I can always change the name as we go on. As I said, I would put a link to the pledge and the form. Here's the pledge link: http://www.pledgebank.com/pressingissues

The form will be up soon and I'll update the post when I can. More blogs coming soon.

Points of Light - 9 days to go

Following the amazing year I have had with Team v, I am now involved with a project run by the Cabinet Office called Points of Light. Having been brought over from the US to be tried for the first time this year, the project will promote outstanding volunteering in our communities and hopefully, in turn, get more people volunteering. I will be in the role as Points of Light Ambassador for Yorkshire and Humber, researching, nominating and rewarding outstanding volunteers and hope to give something back.

Lets face it, I wasn't ready to leave Team v behind and as much as it was stressful at times, I wanted to carry on a similar type of work in a different role. On 28th July, I'm heading down to 10 Downing Street for the first training day and will hopefully meet my North East counterpart. As much as it is tempting to have a go at Cameron if we meet him, probably best not.

The principles of Points of Light originally came from President Bush Sr in his inaugural address in 1989 in which he describes volunteers and community organisations as "a thousand points of light". Often, this is very accurate, given that even in this country, without the voluntary sector, the country would not survive and many essential services would close.



Applying for the position was something that took a lot of thinking about because even now, I am slightly unsure about where I will find volunteers to nominate, however, I will hopefully get some training on this. It will be a challenge in a year when I start my level 3 in media and journalism in specific. On the other hand, I like a challenge. Given it's something that's run by the Cabinet Office, they don't appear to be very organised. Somehow, they managed to book my tickets with my dad's railcard and his tickets with my railcard but oh well. We'll just have to pretend.

Talking of Cabinet, after 25 years as MP for Richmond and 4 years as Foreign Secretary, my MP, William Hague, is stepping down at the next election. Being the exception to the rule, Mr Hague, has been one of the few MPs that still has integrity these days. Being supportive of young people was one of the reasons for that and I thank him for not only listening to the views of young people but also taking action on them. He, in that, has actually been very supportive of volunteers in his constituency and whoever succeeds him, it will be a hard act to follow.

I hope to post something soon after my visit to London and will also be posting ten days after for my Team v Graduation. I hope you like this post and please comment if you have anything to say, as long as it's sensible. Please, no SPAM. Also check out my brothers travel blog as he spends a month or so travelling round Vietnam at http://dennisrm.wordpress.com/  . it goes onto a page not found thing but if you just click on the text that says "Too long to Tweet" it takes you to the blog. 

Team v Recruitment day 2014 - Seeing the change makers of the future

Having said I would not be posting on this blog as much, I thought I would just post something on the recruitment day in Leeds that happened yesterday. Being a Leader for the last year has been a rollercoaster and this is what I told the candidates. This isn't to say that the experience is something that you shouldn't do. Nevertheless, it was good to see a candidate from my neck of the woods, Darlington. In the middle of interviews, I found myself agreeing with a lot of what she said about the area, especially in relation to campaigning. Unfortunately, given I was interviewing, I couldn't actually express this agreement but it will be good to see what she does next year.

The day was a great opportunity to meet some already inspirational people but also to catch up with some of the current leaders and staff. It will be a shame to not have the buzz that Team v gives in the coming year but I am looking forward to Graduation in just over a months time. It's a chance to celebrate and it should be good. Keeping on the subject of Team v, however, more on "Routes to Roots", the results video is out and I have put it in below. Despite a reduced number of events, we still made a significant change and you can see that in the video.


On another subject, I think it is only right that I should pay tribute to those who have volunteered for Le Tour Yorkshire this weekend. I did apply myself but it was going to be a bit hard to do that and Team v Recruitment. Nevertheless, I am still on track to meet my challenge of getting to 500 hours by the end of the summer holidays. I am currently on 455 and therefore, have 45 to go. Doing hours at Oxfam and my writing, I should get those in no time at all (sort of).

Backbench Cabinet

I have been writing as part of the Backbench Cabinet the last 6 months but my time is up. I will continue writing on the subject of education but not in that role I was in. If you have not seen my articles, then please take a look here I also did a piece on Routes to Roots earlier in the campaign here. I hope you like it and any comments on any of my articles or posts on here are appreciated.

I should be doing a few articles on the benefits and links between employment and education and the transition between those two things. It's a subject I would like to investigate and should keep me occupied over the holidays. I have 8 weeks left. It should be a challenge to keep myself occupied. I will keep you posted and i will have to total up my hours at the end of the 8 weeks and let you know. Wish me luck!