YOUNGSTERS BID TO STAMP OUT NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES
Teenagers have used their creative talents in a campaign to challenge negative stereotypes of young people.
A group of about 30 youngsters designed and modelled for posters which will go up around the city with the aim of making people think differently about youths.
The Voices in Action group meets regularly to have a say on key decisions in the city and make positive changes for young people.
And one of its projects this year was to find a way to create a positive image of young people in Derby.
Hannah Hart, 14, of Derwent Heights, was one of the youngsters who worked with artists from Quad and with Marketing Derby to produce slogans and images.
She said: "I'm hoping the posters will make a big difference to how people look at us as young people.
"We want the posters to show that young people in groups aren't trouble. We're just getting together and chatting and playing."
Seven different designs are now being made into posters, which will go up on billboards, hoardings and buses from this week. They show youngsters sitting on benches and skateboarding, with messages such as "Never too old to play".
Heather Varty, 14, of Sunny Hill, also worked on the campaign.
She said: "We've been working on it for about four months and it has been worth it because the posters look really good.
"As well as designing them, we also posed for the pictures and it has been a great experience.
"I just hope they change the way people think about young people."
Councillor Sara Bolton, city council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Derby's involvement of young people in decision-making has been judged as outstanding and this is a reflection of that work.
"Too often, there are negative views of young people - they have worked hard and imaginatively in this project to challenge those views."
The Voices in Action Youth Shadow Board is made up of people aged 11 to 19 from across the city.
Its members come from different schools, youth groups, support groups, community groups, voluntary groups and teenagers who have an interest in issues and opportunities affecting young people.
They have played a role in shaping the city's Children and Young People's Plan, which guides the policies and actions of all agencies working on behalf of children and their families.
Marketing Derby worked with the group to get the anti-stereotyping posters made.
Alex Smith, marketing and communications manager for Marketing Derby, said: "We have been involved with the Voices in Action group on this from the start and are fully supportive of the group and keen to help them every step of the way with this worthwhile campaign.
"We have approached regeneration company Cityscape, which has have given us room on developments and hoardings across the city to display the posters. They will be going up on Cathedral Green and on Riverlights as well as other locations all over the city.
"The posters look great and I think the youngsters have done a wonderful job on them."
The cost of the scheme has not been disclosed.
Article courtesy of Derby Evening Telegraph