An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that this week looks at the future for young people in the North. In the first part of the programme a filmed report on the work of the Gateshead Youth Forum, a youth organisation that provides a voice to 14- to 23-year-olds living in the areas. In the second part of the programme a discussion on major changes to the school system that affect the over 16’s and asks why these changes are necessary and what the affects...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that this week looks at the future for young people in the North. In the first part of the programme a filmed report on the work of the Gateshead Youth Forum, a youth organisation that provides a voice to 14- to 23-year-olds living in the areas. In the second part of the programme a discussion on major changes to the school system that affect the over 16’s and asks why these changes are necessary and what the affects will be. Title: Tyne Tees Briefing From the Tyne Tees Television studio in Newcastle, presenter Ian Breach introduces this edition of ‘Briefing’ that this week will look at what the future holds for the young people of the North beginning with a filmed report by Kevin Rowntree on a unique youth organisation in Gateshead that wants a direct say in young people’s affairs. Malcolm Ryan, current Chairman of the Gateshead Youth Forum speaks with Kevin Rowntree about getting young people involved and getting them making decision for themselves. Nick Pease Community Education Team Leader from Gateshead explains how he hopes the youth forum will develop into an agency that will represent the young people of Gateshead. Wednesday evening in an upstairs room of the local YWCA and a meeting of the Gateshead Youth Forum. A young man in a leather jacket leads the meeting with a young woman next to him taking notes. Lynne Middleton and Vanessa Raine from the youth forum carefully make their way along a snowy and icy suburban road, they are asked about how they feel about being unemployed and how they became involved in the youth forum? Sitting in a living room the two women respond to Kevin Rowntree’s questions. They aren’t sure what will come out of the forum, but they hope it will be a place where young people can express their views and get them heard. In a local supermarket Stephen Rea, a founder member and former Chairman of the forum and its current Treasurer, works to stack the shelves. He is a management trainee for the supermarket but believes his skills working in the forum will help him in this job. A colleague comes over and the two men discuss the arrangements of cans on the shelves before he returns to the stacking. Outside of work Stephen speaks with Kevin Rowntree’s about grant in aid that the forum receives to support and promote their work. They are planning to do a questionnaire which they hope to distribute to all the schools to find out what young people want and decide in the forum what matters to push forward. Nick Pease explains that young people do have a voice and can probably speak for themselves better than those who maybe speaking on their behalf. He believes the youth forum demonstrates this and talks about the changes made with grant aid in that they no longer need adult supervision as they’ve proven capable enough on their own. Malcolm Ryan walks across a concrete shopping precinct and enters the offices of Gateshead’s Voluntary Services Bureau. Inside he speaks with Mr Regan from the bureau about possible free space for the forum to use. He is given a tour of the building, in voiceover Malcolm provides details on the working of the forum and getting young people involved. Back at the meeting of the Gateshead Youth Forum he gives details of the meeting and the facilities that have been offered. A heated discussion follows on another subject, that of the practice of the local careers office who have been giving the names of youngsters who refuse Youth Training Schemes (YTS) to the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) so that their benefits may be cut. Malcolm Ryan leads the discussion on what the forum can do about it. Returning briefly to Nick Pease who sees the forum as part of young people’s development giving them access to small key politics. The Area Manpower Board office in Washington and a meeting taking place inside with the Gateshead Youth Forum about someone to represent young people’s views on the South Tyne Area Manpower Board. Malcolm Ryan speaks at the meeting about how he sees these representatives working and how they would be elected. A diagram about what he is talking about has been attached to a blackboard and is referred to. Back at the Gateshead Youth Forum a discussion is had about the meeting with the Area Manpower Board. Another matter discussed is of Malcolm Ryan’s upcoming trip to London to lobby MP’s from the Gateshead borough. Malcolm provides details of the work carried out so far with letters sent out to said MP’s. As Malcolm continues to speak the film changes to London and the Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben, wrapped in protective cladding. Malcolm leads a delegation from the Gateshead Youth Forum past the statue of Winston Churchill during a visit to Westminster on the 3rd February 1984. The group make their way through central London to a training session on how to lobby MP’s, in voiceover some of the delegation talk about their involvement in the forum and what they hope to achieve for young people by being members. They arrive at Caxton Hall heading inside. In a large room inside Caxton Hall groups young people, including those from the Gateshead Youth Forum, sit listening to a welcome from both the National Union of Students (NUS) and the British Youth Council (BYC) who are running this session. Sitting with one group that includes those from the Gateshead Youth Forum a woman leading the group in discussion about why they’ve come and to also to lead the session on effective lobbying. The camera wonders around the room eves-dropping on other groups discussion similar issues relating to the YTS scheme. Everyone comes together to watch Malcolm and a woman from another group take part in a roleplay where they get to practice some of what they’ve learned by speaking with an actor playing an MP. The session ends with a young woman providing final tips and telling them to ‘give them hell’ when they get to speak with real MP’s that afternoon. A BBC radio reporter join the Gateshead Youth Forum as they meet with two Gateshead MP’s inside the House of Commons. Malcolm introduces the forum to the MP’s before questions are asked with regards the YTS scheme and their recently meeting with the Area Manpower Board. As the meeting continues, in voiceover those involved give their opinion on how they thought the meeting went. Outside the Palace of Westminster Kevin Rowntree walks with Malcolm Ryan asking him how he thought the meeting went and if anything good has come out of it. Malcolm states that the MP’s seemed quite supportive, but it remains to see if they are all talk or if there will be action to it. He is also asked if the morning roleplaying session was a success and what message he will take back to the young people of Gateshead. Returning to the Tyne Tees studio, Ian Breach provides details of more youth councils being set up in the area due to the success of the forum in Gateshead before heading into a commercial break. Title: End of Part One Part Two Over a montage of pupils at a local comprehensive school, Ian Breach provide details on changes that have taken place in the education sector which confuse many in the 16 plus age range and about the development of tertiary education. He begins the discussion by asking what after the age of 16 is education for with responses given by Alan Beith MP Liberal Party Education Spokesman, Giles Radice MP Shadow Education Secretary and Keith Hampson MP Conservative Education Specialist. The questions are then asked to four experts in the area of tertiary education Arthur Carr Principal of Stockton Sixth Form College, Tony Robinson Principal of Peterlee College, Ian Dutton Assistant Director of Education Northumberland and Pamela Parrish a teacher and parent. Ian Breach brings the discussion to a close and ends the programme. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Reporter Kevin Rowntree Film Camera Graham Brown Film Sound Nic Grant Film Editor Peter Telford Research Lynne Petrie, Andrew Solomon Political Editor John Sleight Film Director Rob Cowley Studio Director James Whiteley Producer Bob Farnworth End title: Tyne Tees Colour. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIV