SCHOOL CAREER OFFICERS
Michaela Andrew from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) introduced herself. She stated that GMCA are looking at improving the careers education in schools and colleges across the borough, with Michaela focussing on Oldham. She works with both employers and schools.
Careers education / guidance is where pupils (Year 7 to College & Beyond) are educated on different careers and their associated pathways post-16 or post-18.
Michaela presented Youth Councillors with the Gatsby benchmarks which schools must provide, this includes:
- A stable career programme
- Learning from career and labour market information
- Addressing the needs of each pupil
- Linking curriculum learning to careers
- Encounters with employers and employees
- Experiences of workplaces
- Encounters with further and higher education
- Personal guidance
Michaela asked for what youth councillors’ schools do, and asked if anything that they are doing doesn’t follow the benchmark, and noted down the opinions.
Michaela later introduced us to GMACS, Greater Manchester Apprenticeships & Careers Service ( https://gmacs.co.uk/ – we are not liable for external links ). The website contains blogs on different sectors providing vital information, alongside localised information. In addition to this, GMACS is linked to OurPass, the free bus pass for 16-18 year olds in Greater Manchester. GMACS is free of charge and provides advise to everyone, from 11 year olds to people in their adulthood.
GMACS also links to Xello, a careers education software. If you would like to use this service, you must get your school to enrol on their service to allow you to have an account.
MAKE YOUR MARK LOCAL ISSUES
To follow through from the last meeting where Youth Councillors discussed what Make Your Mark regional issues, Youth Councillors discussed the issues local to Oldham. The issues discussed include:
- Homelessness
- Sexual & Street Harassment
- Health Care & GP Appointments
- Road Safety
- More Lighting
- Public Transportation
- Unemployment
- Fly Tipping & Litter / Rubbish
- Cyberbullying
- Mental Health
- Discrimination
- Bullying
- Fire Safety
- Racism in Schools
- Social Housing
- Poverty
- Homophobia & Transphobia
- Job Opportunities
- Work Experience
- Smoking & Vaping in Public
- Activities for Children
Youth councillors went into smaller groups in order to discuss the issues further. Later, the whole Youth Council went through all of the ideas to filter down by removing any campaigns which wouldn’t be effective, and merging similar issues. Youth councillors will be sent a survey privately, and the top 10 issues from there will be chosen to appear on the Make Your Mark.
EVENTS AND TRIPS
- YouthForia, Sunday the 4th of December, Oldham
- Secret Santa, Next OYC Meeting (Wed 14 December 2022) Youth Councillors who signed up for this are requested to bring in the gift on this day.
AOB
Tom questioned how active the Youth Mayor was, and asked Chris for a Youth Mayor update monthly, which will occur.
