Young people set up advice agency
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
A group of 15- to 21-year-olds is setting up a social enterprise that will advise public services and businesses on engaging with young people, after taking part in a New Deal for Communities scheme.
The 10 young people decided to form the Disc Agency, which opens for business next month, after taking part in a young advisers scheme run by Community at Heart, Bristol's New Deal for Communities project.
The scheme saw those taking part advise local services and companies on the best way to involve and attract young people. After it ended, the young people decided to continue their work through their own social enterprise.
Co-founder Ricardo Sharry said the Disc Agency would use its profits to bankroll a number of youth projects. "Our social aims include a website with information for young people, a youth advice hotline and an endowment fund for young people," he said.
Community at Heart helped the young people get the training and support they needed to set up the Disc Agency. Charlene Richardson, Community at Heart's young people's programme delivery manager, said: "It just shows how much young people can do."
- To contact the Disc Agency, email yadisc@hotmail.com
