Transport Issues

An online questionnaire was available during December and January and was completed by 309 children and young people in Cumbria.

Click here to find out the results.

Into media and journalism?

Join a group of young people to use your creativity putting together a magazine for young people throughout Cumbria working with vinvolved.

The group will meet in Kendal on Wednesday evenings however vinvolved may be able to help with travel expenses and if it is not possible to attend meetings in Kendal then you could act as a journalist and contribute articles from home.

Get in touch on 01539 742612 or email vinvolved-cumbria@btcv.org.uk for more info.

Grass Roots Prize 2010

The theme for this year's prize is "The Power of One Voice"

1st Prize: £100
Runner Up prizes: £25

Grassroots want to know what you think about the power of words and voices.

Has someone in history or the present day impressed you with their words? How? Why?
Do you have an idea about how a single voice can achieve good things in the future?
Can a single voice change the world?
Have you used your own voice to achieve something you are proud of?
Have someone's words inspired you?

You can interpret the theme however you like. We want your imaginations to run free.

RULES FOR SUBMISSION

1. Entries can be in any format (essays, poems, short stories, photographs etc)
2. The competition is open to anyone (they are especially interested in receiving entries from young people).
3. Entries may be the work of an individual or a group.
4. Work must be original, and must not have been published elsewhere before.
5. Entries must be sent to prizes@grassrootsorg.co.uk by midnight, 1st September 2010.
6. Entries will be published on the Grass Roots website, and may be published elsewhere.
7. The judges' decision is final.

Please send your entries to: prizes@grassrootsorg.co.uk
http://www.grassrootsorg.co.uk/

The First Artwork to Be Made 'inside' Facebook

An innovative artwork has been launched that is the first artwork to be made 'inside' Facebook. The project uses a combination of Facebook data and Youtube clips to create short films based on the lives of Barrow locals.

The project is by an artist called James Coupe and is called "Today, too, I experienced something I hope to understand in a few days". The artwork collects Facebook status updates and profile information and combines it with related footage from YouTube and a database of video portraits to create one new video each day.

The videos evolve to keep pace with how we change, both individually and collectively. The result is a dynamic snapshot of how we fit into the network of stories that we participate in every day. We are looking for more people to get involved with this ground breaking project.

It's free and all you need is a Facebook account.

Here's how you do it: - Barrovians can join the Facebook application now: http://bit.ly/adKnea - Everyone can view and subscribe to the daily films on YouTube: http://bit.ly/9emx8L - … Or you can become a fan of the application and discuss the films: http://bit.ly/a6Mj27 This artwork is presented by the Abandon Normal Devices Festival: http://andfestival.co.uk

Big Shout out for Young Researchers

Do young people in Cumbria get to have their say about the services they use like health centres, schools, youth clubs, and police. Are they involved when decisions are made that affect them?

We need to figure out whether you are being asked for your opinions, and if so are you actually being listened to?

For this, we need you. We are looking for young people who are up for investigating whether or not you and your peers are genuinely involved in important decisions. Exactly what this project will look like is up to you, but I imagine it will be fun, interesting, creative, and worthwhile. If you're up for it, get in touch.

Get in touch...
For more information on this or any of the Big Shout projects:

Contact Sharon: 07545 926 672
sharon.brown@brathay.org.uk

Summer Reading Challenge

Cumbria Libraries are looking for volunteers aged 14+ to be "Quest Seekers" to encourage children to join and complete Quest Seekers, help promote the challenge, assist library staff in manning the reading challenge desks, talk to children about what they have read and help them to find what they want.

For more information please contact

• Barrow, Erin on 01229 407369 or erin.stockhill@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Carlisle, Caroline on 01228 227324 or caroline.lunny@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Eden, Deb on 01768 812104 or deb.holden@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• Kendal and South Lakes, Frances on 01539 713528 or frances.taylor@cumbriacc.gov.uk

• West Cumbria, Kathryn on 01946 506408 or kathryn.flagner@cumbriacc.gov.uk

Please view this poster for more information, http://www.wotson4u.com/Images/Volunteer%20Poster%20-%202010_tcm232-183203.pdf

Cumbria’s 11 MILLION Takeover Day Events

ITV Fixers is a major media campaign supporting young people (aged 16 - 25) to take action on any issue they feel strongly about - raising awareness and changing things for the better. It is a charity funded project backed by ITV aimed at giving young people a voice.

ITV Fixers will work with young people who want to speak out, to create their 'fix', their campaign, whether it be making leaflets to raise awareness of an issue, an education pack, a short film, an event, a piece of art work, virtually ANYTHING as long as it benefits others in some way.

All ITV Fixers projects are highlighted online, and some might potentially be featured on television within your regional news programmes.

You can discuss ideas and get back to us and ITV can help shape their projects. There is no formal application process or pitch to complete, it's just a case of getting in touch and talking it through. It is a great opportunity for young people to take action on an issue and feel empowered.

Visit the website at www.itvfixers.com or email Samantha@itvfixers.com for more details.

Possibly the best group in the world about walking for teenagers... ever!

Meet every saturday morning at 10am at The Sands Centre in Carlisle for some basic walks around the city of Carlisle before walking further distances and eventually taking on the challenge of walking across the North of England following the Hadrian's wall route.

For more information Phone: 01228 817591 or 01228 596272, Text: 07834098549 or 07855480375, E-mail: niallm@carlisle.gov.uk or loreena.cairns@connexionscumbria.co.uk

WANTED! Young people to develop a newspaper

Interested in reporting the news? Want to publish reviews of the latest films? Want to be part of the newest news team?

If you're interested in publishing a teenage newspaper or magazine ring:

Niall, on (01228) 817591 or he will get back to you if you text the word News to 07834098549

Want to make a mark on how your health services should be?

Click for more news