In an exciting new venture, the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is setting up a Youth Council enabling young people to input their ideas for how the Trust should work and engage with their peer group across the county.

The Youth Council will be composed of young people aged 10 – 21 years old from all over Sussex and will meet once a month to discuss issues they feel are important. Since beginning work in August 2008, the Youth Council Facilitator, Sarah Tribe, has been working hard to gather a Steering Group of young people and together they have made some important decisions about how the Youth Council should be set up and run. The application process for Youth Council members is now open and anyone interested in applying should contact Sarah Tribe on 07827 830891.

The process of setting up the Youth Council at SWT is being funded by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and once established, may be used as a template for other Trusts around the UK to take up if they so wish.

For further information about the Youth Council contact Sarah Tribe on 07827 830891. You can also log on to the blog www.swtyc.blogspot.com