We’re delighted to announce the return of Kids’ Own Youth Advisory Group!  We created the Youth Advisory Group, as part of our mission to include children and young people’s voices in every aspect of our work and decision-making. The children and young people in the group will meet and work alongside some of our artists, make art and find out about what Kids’ Own does. The group will advise us on what we should do in the future. As as a member of this advisory group, the young people will also help shape Kids’ Own’s new Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy. The project is kindly funded by The Arts Council Ireland.

Our associate writer Sarah O’Keeffe gives us an update on the first session in 2024.

“On Saturday April 13^th we were delighted to hold our first session of the Kids’ Own Youth Advisory Group for 2024! It was so nice to welcome back familiar faces of the 2023 group, and also meet the new members joining us for the first time. We held the session in the Northside Community Centre, which was bright and spacious with fantastic views of Benbulben as our backdrop. After spending a bit of time getting to know each other and our interests, we worked on creating eight-page fold booklets which could contain their story of choice. When sharing with the group we discovered a wide range of creativity and storylines: Lost Dogs, Dancing Kittens, Poetry Collection, Cats in New York, Changlings, Boat Safety, and a tribute to Sligo. Was the Sligo tribute inspired by our Benbulben views? Whether it was or not, any tourism board would be impressed! I am so delighted to be a part of this talented group of young writers and look forward to all of the creativity to follow throughout the year.”

This project was kindly funded by The Arts Council Ireland.

Read more about the Youth Advisory Project here: https://kidsown.ie/projects/kids-own-youth-advisory-group/