MEMBERS of the Stroud District Youth Council have visited UN HQ in New York and also attended a national event for young councillors.

Rebecca Hunt, SDYC chairman, and Lauren Davies, principal member for the environment, spoke to Stroud district councillors on Thursday, September 7 about their visit to the UN.

They are particularly keen to increase support for the Stroud Women’s Refuge and explore the setting up of a county based organisation affiliated to the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations (NAWO).

"Our visit to New York was self funded but Lauren and I are naturally keen to acknowledge the continued support of Stroud District Council through the Council’s youth services, which have enabled us to become empowered to undertake such huge opportunities," said Rebecca at the community services and licensing committee meeting.

Both youth councillors wish to increase awareness of the UN’s sustainability development goals and want to encourage the teaching of gender equality within schools.

A delegation from the youth council was present at the recent British Youth Council (BYC) annual meeting in London.

The event saw youth voice representatives from across the UK gather to debate and vote on key national issues for young people.

These decisions determine the BYC manifesto for working with many national and international organisations, as well as the UK Government.

Helen March, SDYC’s representative to the BYC, said: "It was an amazing experience, getting to share our views about issues that matter to us.

"I feel really proud to have been given this opportunity to represent young people in the Stroud district and I am incredibly grateful for it."

SDYC voting delegates debated topics including those concerning the taxing of sanitary products and gender issues, both of which SDYC proposed an amendment to the respective initial motions culminating success in both debates.

Other proposals like buying British produce and sustainable living will also be commented upon online by the Stroud representatives, in the coming weeks.

Delegates also voted for the various elected officers of BYC to serve for the year ahead.

Attending this high profile event ensures that the voice of young people from the Stroud district is also heard alongside those from other parts of the UK.

The SDYC delegates were: Luna Stephens (Wotton Youth Forum); Helen March (Archway School); Rebecca Hunt, SDYC chairman (Cainscross Youth Forum); and, George Adamson, SDYC leader (Berkeley Vale Youth Forum).