JOIN your peers and help make sure that the youth voice gets heard.
The North East Lincolnshire Council for Young People is a group which works with companies and local councillors to campaign for the interests of young people living in the borough.
In the last four years, numbers have dwindled from more than 30 to just nine under the age of 18.
The group – many of whom are 17 and will soon have to leave – is now appealing for more members.
Jordan Hagerup, 17, of Holton-le-Clay, said: "You can speak to people high up in the council, give them your views and tell them what needs changing.
"Generally, the people we talk to want to get feedback from young people but find it difficult so they really listen to what you're saying."
Jordan joined the council five years ago and there have been a number of success stories.
This summer, they convinced Stagecoach to introduce a Holiday Rider bus ticket, which allows young people to travel as many times as they want in the area for a £1.50 daily ticket during school holidays.
It was so successful that they will be on sale again from December 21, throughout the Christmas school holidays.
They also convinced North East Lincolnshire Council and partner organisations not to use mosquito devices – units that emit a constant high-pitched noise that can only be heard by young people, but for a few exceptions.
They were invented to keep young people away from areas prone to anti-social behaviour but meant that many perfectly innocent young people suffered as a result.
Jordan added: "I don't get involved in antisocial behaviour yet I could hear the sound and it was actually painful in some places.
"We argued that it was against our human rights and councillors listened to us."
Emma Stephen, 16, of Hainton Avenue, said that friends who aren't on the council sometimes take an interest in what the group is doing.
"It's not seen as negative and people will sometimes ask me what we are discussing and talk to me about what they think needs changing," said Emma.
Wheelchair user Connor Tucker, 16, of Lancaster Avenue, said he joined to represent the views of other disabled people.
"I wanted to share my perspective on things but have learned a lot, too," he said.
Get involved
If you are interested in joining the Council for Young People, call Pippa Curtin, participation co-ordinator, on 01472 323298.
If you are a young person with a view you want to get across, then why not write a piece for our daily First Person column?
Just e-mail a 300-word article, with a paragraph explaining your connection to the subject matter, to newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk. We also need a head and shoulders picture and a daytime contact number.
Don't miss our Young Reporter column every Saturday. It's a scheme to encourage writing supported by the Young People's Support Service and the Grimsby Telegraph.
We have a team of Young Reporters who take it in turns to write the weekly column.
