Platform 51

Truth about Youth

Funded by The Co-operative Foundation, we work with young people in six areas of Cardiff to challenge negative perceptions about young people and break down the barriers they face.

Many people in Britain today have very negative perceptions about young people.

In Cardiff, local surveys reveal that many think that today’s youth are out of control, disrespectful, involved in anti-social behaviour and are a danger to the community. On the other side of the coin, children and young people say that they feel not valued or respected in their communities.These opinions are regularly reported in the regional media and in community consultations.

Platform 51 Cardiff is running a project called Truth About Youth. In six areas of Cardiff we are working with boys and girls aged 14 and over in Truth Teams. Guided by a youthworker, the Truth Teams will lead community research to reveal the most important subjects to tackle, and to identify the training they need and the partners they want to work with.

Having discovered which are the most important subjects, the Truth Teams will then devise a Truth Challenge; a co-operative community project aimed at overcoming their particular subject leading to positive change and greater understanding.

Ideas for Truth Challenges may be: a community event; an environmental project,campaigning for services, intergenerational work, volunteering or producing a film. With the support of a youth worker, each team will be responsible for planning their challenge, finding out what training, funding and resources they need and who they need to work with. The group will work with the media, organise publicity, host politician visits or meetings and engage community members.

12 August 2011 - Young carers - Deputy Head of Council visits Platform 51
29 July 2011 - Young gypsy travellers - have their work displayed
20 July 2011 - Superkidz - pen friends with pensioners
06 July 2011 - All about boys and girls - question their local PSCOs
1 April 2011 - Loud and Proud - truth team interview the public
24 March 2011 - Truth About Youth celebrates - one year in Cardiff
24 March 2011 - Young mums united - to tackle negative perceptions
20 March 2011 - Young and old meet and mix - at fun event
17 March 2011 - Pretty girls rock - art exhibition
9 March 2011 - All about boys and girls - meet up with the older generation
7 March 2011 - Young and old convene - to plan myth busting event
1 March 2011 - Youth skate for truth - 'Truth team' hosts skate event