Summer sessions offering life skills

The Lessons for Life sessions have been developed in response to results of the annual Make Your Mark survey, run nationally by the UK Youth Parliament and facilitated locally by Wigan Council.

The survey asks young people to highlight one issue they would most like to see changed and having a “curriculum for life” - in other words learning more life skills on top of having academdic studies at school - has repeatedly appeared in the top three issues voted for.

Member of the youth cabinet and UK Youth Parliament representative, William Powell, 14, from Orrell, said: “This is a really good opportunity for young people as you’ll learn a lot about different aspects of life.

“Sometimes these subjects don’t get covered at school in any detail so we decided to arrange some workshops in the school holidays.”

The first round of sessions will cover mental health, sexual health and relationships and LGBTQ+ awareness.

They are being run by local professionals from Spectrum Community Health CIC and Papyrus Prevention of Young Suicide and local young people from BYOU, Wigan Council’s youth group for LGBTQ+ young people.

The workshops have been funded by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles and supported by Wigan Council.

Coun Jenny Bullen, portfolio holder for young people’s services at the local authority, said: “I’m proud of the young people from our youth cabinet.

“They have listened to what other young people have been telling them is an issue and have taken action to do something about it.

“I’d encourage all local young people to go along to these workshops.”

Member of Youth Cabinet Sam Miller, 15, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, said: “I feel like at youth cabinet we’re lucky because we have access to good information and to professionals who run services for young people so we want to use these contacts to help pass on knowledge to other young people.”

All young people aged 13 to 17 (or up to age 25 if you have a disability) are welcome to come along. All participants will receive a nationally recognised qualification and be invited to an awards ceremony at the end of August.

There was one session taking place at The Turnpike in Leigh and another is scheduled to take place on Wednesday August 8 at Wigan Council’s building on Liverpool Road, Platt Bridge, WN2 5BD.

Both workshops run 10am to 3pm and lunch will be provided.

For more information, young people or parents and carers can contact Lisa at Wigan Council on [email protected]