Are you, or do you know, a young person with Down Syndrome who wants to take up this exciting opportunity?

As part of the My Voice volunteering programme, Hertfordshire Libraries is looking to create an inclusive and diverse panel of young people aged between 14 -24 years old, to empower Youth Voice and to advise on services and activities for their peers.

A key focus for the Youth Advisory Panel initially will be to shape the exciting new project My Voice, a youth volunteering offer, generously supported by Arts Council England, in partnership with DS Achieve, Herts Sports Partnership and The OLLIE Foundation.

You don’t have to be passionate about reading or even a library user, but you do need to be passionate about representing young people’s views, pushing for change and better opportunities in libraries for young people.

This is a voluntary role but any reasonable travel and/or expenses incurred will be covered by Hertfordshire Libraries.

What’s in it for me?

Ensure young people’s voices are at the heart of Hertfordshire Libraries services
Be part of creating recruitment campaigns to encourage young people to become My Voice Volunteers at their local library and develop youth-led events and activities
Get involved in opportunities to meet other young people and work together on the exciting and innovative My Voice, the new youth volunteering project for which DS Achieve is a partner

What will I have to do?

You need to be a Hertfordshire resident aged 14-24 years old who can commit to the Youth Advisory Panel for approximately 12 months..

Hertfordshire Libraries will support reasonable adjustments for anyone who attends the panel who has Down Syndrome.

As a Youth Advisory Panel member, with support from the My Voice Project Officer/Senior Leadership Team mentor, you will need to:

read any information provided to you before Youth Advisory Panel meetings
attend a monthly meeting (either in person or online via Teams)
work together with other Youth Advisory Panel members during meetings or via email
support the development of the My Voice youth volunteering project
advise on the direction of the work of Hertfordshire Libraries and how to best engage with young people
work with with library staff to improve services for young people
give support to Hertfordshire Libraries, acting as Ambassadors for the Service
showcase work achieved by the Advisory Panel and My Voice Volunteers internally and via established communication platforms, e.g., social media

The next Youth Advisory Panel meeting will be held on:

DATE: Thursday 23 February 2023, 5pm - 6.30pm
VENUE: Performing Arts/Central Stocks Unit, Hertfordshire Libraries, Centrapark, Bessemer Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 1HT

To find out more and to express your interest in joining the panel please contact Hannah Pegg at Hannah.Pegg@hertfordshire.gov.uk.