3rd December 2008
‘Stop slagging us off!’ That was the plea from 400 young people as revealed at Portrait of a Nation – the biggest youth summit of its kind.
Other burning issues raised at the event were ‘how do young people want the UK to be portrayed as a nation in 2012?’ and ‘how can we stop knife crime and gang rivalry being a part of youth culture?’
The Youth Summit debate was a culmination of a two-year journey which challenged more than 3,000 young people from 17 cities* across the UK to explore who they are, where they come from and their hopes for the future as young British adults. It was organised by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Liverpool Culture Company, as part of the European City of Culture celebrations.
The young people were consulted on who they most wanted to reach with their views and questions, ranging from the Prime Minister to the head of the police. There were 10 high-profile panellists present at the debate, including poet Lemn Sissay, comedian Richard Blackwood and broadcaster Neil Buchanan; they were joined by 17 young ambassadors representing each of the cities taking part.
Speed debating groups focussed on topics key that matter most to the lives of young people and how they are shaped by their cultures, pasts and the place they call home. The outcomes kicked off the main debate where the young people put their questions and views to the panel.
Alia Radman, age 15 years, from Cardiff, said: “It’s great to be given a voice. We’ve all got different views and want to be seen as young individuals and not hoodies or hooligans as the media labels us.”
One of the panellists, Tristram Hunt, historian, broadcaster and Trustee of Heritage Lottery Fund, commented: “Liverpool has a global reach and within the world media such as the New York Post and Times of India it remains a wonderful place. We have an extraordinary culture in Liverpool and throughout the rest of the UK so we shouldn’t worry too much about the negative picture our national press paints.”
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HLF Trustee Tristram Hunt and Richard Blackwood
Comedian Richard Blackwood, said: “Unfortunately the media will always be interested in more negative stories but you’ve got to keep shouting about the positive. We need to work with the parents and young people to provide more positive opportunities and role models, in order to build aspirations and dreams.”
Responding to questions about knife crime and gangs being part of youth culture, he commented “There are two reasons young people carry knives, for respect and out of fear. The problem has gone beyond disadvantaged areas and has become a common culture. Young people need to wake up to the reality that there are no ghettos here and stop hyping on the badness and become who they really are. You need to take a stand by re-establishing your own communities and creating a focus for your area.”
Sarah Wilson, age 15 from Derby, said: “Being involved in Portrait of a Nation and coming here to see all the cities at work has been amazing. I now have more faith in Britain and its young people.”
When asked about how we should be portrayed in 2012, Courtney Keyes, age 17 from Norwich, said: “We should focus on showing a sense of unity. This event has proved we can work well together as a nation and that we can celebrate our similarities and differences. Let’s not fake it.”
Poet Lemn Sissay closed the debate by saying: “This debate has revealed that young people share similar questions, concerns and aspirations and the differences between our cities is not as big as we think. The panel was here to listen; now we need to stop talking and start acting. The Portrait of a Nation the young people have painted will not stop here and has created a lasting legacy by the people who will shape our future.”
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Young person and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Steve Rotheram, meet Rt Rev Jesse Jackson
As part of the two-day Youth Summit, the young people also showcased their creative responses to the cultural identities of their individual cities, through music, dance, theatre, sculpture, photography, fashion and graffiti. The event closed last night with two spectacular finale performances, which were introduced by the Right Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Notes to Editors:
Photographs of the debate and exhibition are available on request.
The panel were:
• Lemn Sissay (Debate Host): Author/Poet/Performer
• Neil Buchanan: TV presenter: Art Attack
• Richard Blackwood: Comedian/Presenter
• Phil Redmond CBE: Creative Director, Liverpool Culture Company
• Stephen Hesford MP: Member of Parliament for Wirral West (Labour) / PPS to Michael Wills MP, Minister for Justice
• Tristram Hunt: Broadcaster and Historian
• Geoff Thompson MBE: Chairman, Youth Charter for Sports, Culture and the Arts
• Carole Souter: Director of Heritage Lottery Fund
• Christina Coker: Chief Executive, Youth Music
• Right Reverend Thomas Williams: Bishop of Liverpool
* The 17 cities taking part in Portrait of a Nation are: Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Canterbury, Cardiff, Derby, Inverness, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford.
The Heritage Lottery Fund enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and countryside or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have awarded £4billion to more than 26,000 projects.
The Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 is run by The Liverpool Culture Company, an organisation set up by Liverpool City Council to deliver the culture programme up to and beyond 2008.