The first meeting of the Sustainable Development Forum took place recently in London. The National Youth Agency is among the forum's members and believes that youth work can play an increasingly important role in enabling young people to understand and influence sustainable development and related policies at all levels. The idea of sustainable development is to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.
The initial purpose of the forum is to promote and develop young people's involvement, to create new initiatives and instigate research. The forum is also expected to provide opportunities for skill sharing, and to create mechanisms in the youth work sector for young people to influence policy.
Though a number of differing agendas emerged at the inaugural meeting, it is hoped that a co-ordinating group comprising The NYA and groups such as the Department for Education and Skills and the Council for Environmental Education will establish an overall direction for the forum's future business.
It will meet twice a year and work with all relevant organisations and authorities to develop policies and plans of mutual interest.
