At the National Youth Agency we are delighted to be leading the Shine Festival in 2010 in partnership with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and a consortium of delivery partners. It is important that young people are at the heart of the planning and direction of Shine and we're very pleased to be working with so many talented young people.
Our job is to make sure we build on their ideas and deliver a fantastic week of activity that highlights what young people are capable of achieving. But we also want to go further - we want to build a monument that people can get behind and support. We want this to last throughout the year and gather momentum towards Shine Week in July.
Shine provides a voice for children and young people across England. It demonstrates to a national audience the positive contribution they make in society and provides endless opportunities to dispel myths, shatter negative stereotypes and create positive role models for other young people to look up to. We will build on the programme's success in 2009 - which attracted involvement from around 6,000 schools and youth organisations - to ensure even more young people are given the opportunity to celebrate their achievements in 2010.
As well as continuing to work with schools, we also want young people to get involved through their youth clubs and to encourage local authorities and voluntary organisations to get involved too. Affirming positive views of young people is something that adults need to do too and we think there are lots of opportunities for local businesses, charities and civic organisations to pledge their support and get behind the message.
And if you're not already on board and would like to join us in this important campaign then do get in touch with us.
Fiona Blacke is chief executive of the National Youth Agency. She can be contacted at fionab@nya.org.uk.
