Young people are 37 percent of our population and 100 percent of our future.
The achievements and legacy of Newham Year of the Young Person will be celebrated today (Friday, 11 March) in a major event at Stratford Youth Zone.
The borough’s young people are set to provide a fantastic array of entertainment including a flash mob choir, dance, spoken word and musical performances, DJs, producers’ mini-sets, “Talkeoke” and art activities in “Create and Celebrate” – a spectacular grand finale to the Year.
The showcase marks the conclusion of the 13-month “Year of the Young Person” which – in partnership with the Newham Recorder newspaper – has championed and supported children and young people through a vibrant programme of activities that explored everything we do in the Council and in the community.
An unbelievably wide range of events has taken place during the year.
Newham’s young apprentices picked up skills in plumbing, tiling, plastering, painting, doing carpentry and fitting kitchens; young carers were brought together to celebrate their remarkable achievements, a young curator exhibited work for Newham Heritage Month and a jam-packed summer holidays programme was laid on.
Moreover, around 38,000 children received Newham Libraries membership cards, young artists got the break they were looking for through Newham Unlocked Festival and a special performance of a play enabled young people to reflect on violence against women.
These are just a few examples of the hundreds of events and activities during Newham Year of the Young Person that are being celebrated.
For Create and Celebrate, Stratford Youth Zone will be operating at high capacity with events taking place at the same time in seven different spaces.
Around 300 guests are expected to attend Create and Celebrate including Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE.
Mayor Fiaz said: “Young people and children in Newham are brilliant and I want to thank each and every one of them for what they give to the borough.
“When I was growing up in Newham, I recall the excitement of taking part in activities in the borough and I would encourage our people to participate.
“All of our children and young people are special and I want to say to them: ‘What you’ve done during Newham Year of the Young Person is awesome!’ It is an inspiration to everyone in the borough."
Councillor Carleene Lee-Phakoe, Cabinet Member for Brighter Futures, said: “Newham Year of the Young Person has enabled us to showcase the countless way in which the borough’s children and young people are shining brightly – making the most of the tremendous offer that we are able to make to them.
“Recently, we supported and launched a Young People’s Charter, an agreement between young people and the council and businesses, organisations and adults in the borough as the legacy of Year of the Young People. It paves the way to making Newham the best place for children and young people to grow up and thrive.”
Cllr. Lee-Phakoe added: “It is vital that we always see children and young people in a positive light. Our children and young people are incredible. There is nothing negative about them. People should never see children and young people as negative citizens.”