We count, too, so don’t discriminate against us. That was the message young people shared with politicians yesterday (Sunday) at the annual forum run by the Youth Service, part of the Department of Education and Children. UCount2 was held at Cronk-y-Berry Primary School’s Youth Wing and involved 25 over-13s who are members of the Youth Service’s 65+ clubs and projects. Young people chose the theme of discrimination, exploring it via workshops before holding a question and answer session with politicians, including Peter Karran MHK, Minister for Education and Children, Dudley Butt MLC, a member of the Department of Education and Children, Steve Rodan, Speaker of the House of Keys, and Laurence Skelly, MHK for Rushen and the head of the new Rushen Youth Action Group. A ‘Diary Room’, led by Voirrey Kennaugh, Youth and Community Worker, and filmed by Martin Macfarlane, Youth Worker, enabled young people to share their experiences of discrimination on camera for a film that will be added to the Youth Service’s website this week. Areas covered included life at school, young people’s treatment by shopkeepers and access to facilities. A ‘listening wall’, led by Nigel Kane, Youth and Community Worker, soon filled up with examples of discrimination young people highlighted, from being bullied and being unable to enjoy social facilities to paying adult prices at cinemas and for flights. Fiona Helleur, Head of Youth Arts at the Youth Arts Centre, led improvised plays centred around people’s differences. Jim Maynard, Youth and Community Worker, encouraged young people to think about discrimination in its widest sense and then look at how they had experienced it and he and volunteer Zoe Mason, 18, compiled still photos of participants airing their views, which will be voiced over to symbolise young people not having a voice. Adam Peet, 13, who took part in UCount2, said: ‘This event gets our voice out to Ministers and MHKs because we are part of the community as well and we are the future.’ Shannon Watson, 11, added: ‘Children need a say in stuff. There are so many things children don’t have a say in. If we don’t have our say it will affect our future.’ Mr Skelly, who is a member of the Departments of Community, Culture and Leisure and Economic Development, and Mr Butt, who is also the Isle of Man Government’s Children’s Champion, pledged to follow up on some of the points young people had made. Minister Karran told the young people: ‘What we have tried to do is make sure aspirations have improved in our generation and it’s up to you to make sure aspirations improve further. This is an interesting forum. In our day young people were seen and not heard so we have come a long way.’ Mr Rodan told the gathering: ‘We need to go beyond meeting and talking every so often and try to find a way of achieving things and making sure the concerns you mention are acted upon. The Government would then be obliged to follow through and account for any action taken.’ UCount2 also saw the launch of a survey of over 11s aimed at informing Isle of Man Government’s next Children’s Plan, due out in 2012. The survey – on www.iomyouth.com – is the most comprehensive run to date by the Youth Service, which gathers views of its members annually. It covers issues such as law and order, youth clubs and groups, youth unemployment, bullying, diet, alcohol and homelessness, to name but a few. Youth workers are also visiting clubs and projects to glean members’ views on the Government’s five key outcomes for young people: Being healthy, staying safe, enjoying life and achieving, making a positive contribution and prospering. The Youth Service works with young people aged eight to 25 and runs 66 clubs and projects over 90 sessions each week. For more information, visit www.iomyouth.com Ends