Alliance Youth is holding its first ‘Europe Debate’ on MONDAY 28th APRIL 2008 at Party HQ.

 As long standing and active members of LYMEC (European Liberal Youth), Alliance Youth will be sending two delegates to LYMEC Congress in Barcelona at the beginning of May.

 AY is an open and democratic organisation and as part of our strategy to engage more with our international partners, we feel its only right that our members get an opportunity to debate, argue, fight the bit out over the resolutions put before Congress.

Come along on Wednesday and give us your views.  For more details, get in touch with either Stephen Martin (Chair) or Chris Andrews (International Officer).

Alliance Youth has set up its own Group specifically to focus on the issue of child poverty.  Following the recent interim report on Child Poverty by the Committee of the First and Deputy First Minister, we felt it vital that we undertake our own work into an area that clearly is a huge problem here in Northern Ireland.  As the economy begins to take a downward turn, it is those on the edges of society who are struggling to make ends meet as it is who will be the most affected.  The knock-on consequences for our children will be huge! 

If you’re interested in contributing to the discussion on child poverty, please get in contact with Christine Dorrian or log into the Members Section of the AY Forum to give us your views on what the issues are and how we move forward.

Thursday 3rd April saw AY members descend on Stormont en masse together with young people from East Belfast to attend a Youth Reception hosted by Party Deputy Leader, Naomi Long MLA.

 Following a tour of Parliament Buildings, all the young people in attendance were treated to a reception in the Long Gallery and an opportunity to chat to Naomi about her work in East Belfast.

 It was a great night and we wish to thank Naomi and all the East Belfast Team for putting on such a brilliant event!!  The event showed that young people are politically aware, want to get active and play their part in a Northern Ireland moving forward.