ALLIANCE YOUTH ATTENDS EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON YOUTH ISSUES Alliance Youth Chair Stephen Martin and International Officer Chris Andrews have joined 170 other young leaders at a European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) Congress in Barcelona in demanding action on youth employment, suicide prevention and climate change amongst others.Alliance Youth Chair Stephen Martin commented: ‘Joining other moderate young political leaders from across Europe in demanding joined up thinking on issues that directly effect the future prospects of our young people, Alliance Youth played a role in shaping a common platform for a pan-European agenda to tackle real everyday problems.

Alliance Youth is holding its first ‘Europe Debate’ on MONDAY 28th APRIL 2008 at Party HQ.

 As long standing and active members of LYMEC (European Liberal Youth), Alliance Youth will be sending two delegates to LYMEC Congress in Barcelona at the beginning of May.

 AY is an open and democratic organisation and as part of our strategy to engage more with our international partners, we feel its only right that our members get an opportunity to debate, argue, fight the bit out over the resolutions put before Congress.

Come along on Wednesday and give us your views.  For more details, get in touch with either Stephen Martin (Chair) or Chris Andrews (International Officer).

Alliance Youth has set up its own Group specifically to focus on the issue of child poverty.  Following the recent interim report on Child Poverty by the Committee of the First and Deputy First Minister, we felt it vital that we undertake our own work into an area that clearly is a huge problem here in Northern Ireland.  As the economy begins to take a downward turn, it is those on the edges of society who are struggling to make ends meet as it is who will be the most affected.  The knock-on consequences for our children will be huge! 

If you’re interested in contributing to the discussion on child poverty, please get in contact with Christine Dorrian or log into the Members Section of the AY Forum to give us your views on what the issues are and how we move forward.

Thursday 3rd April saw AY members descend on Stormont en masse together with young people from East Belfast to attend a Youth Reception hosted by Party Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MLA.

 Following a tour of Parliament Buildings, all the young people in attendance were treated to a reception in the Long Gallery and an opportunity to chat to Naomi about her work in East Belfast.

 It was a great night and we wish to thank Naomi and all the East Belfast Team for putting on such a brilliant event!!  The event showed that young people are politically aware, want to get active and play their part in a Northern Ireland moving forward. 

Alliance Youth Chair Stephen Martin has hailed the success of Alliance Youth, with three members being elected to serve on Party Executive at the AGM on Saturday 1 March.  He, along with Queen’s Alliance Chair and West Tyrone Representative Michael Bower and Alliance Youth Secretary Mark Baillie from North Down were all elected and now represent a quarter of the Party Executive, illustrating yet another success for the active youth wing in recent times.

Alliance Youth Chair Stephen Martin, who comes from Lagan

Mark Baillie, Secretary of Alliance Youth, said: “We intend to highlight issues important to all young people - how we build a shared future free from sectarianism and division, how we protect our environment while creating sustainable growth in our economy, and how we hold an ineffective Executive at Stormont to account on issues they are sweeping under the carpet such as the future of post-primary education.”

Stephen Martin added: “Our Party believes in youth participation at every level and I would actively encourage all young people who share our vision of a shared future to join us and be a part of a party that is moving forward.”