Shout Out Soon

Youth@CLC submit the SOS survey to the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, July 2004

The SOS survey- Shout Out Soon!!

SOS was funded by the Prince’s Trust. It enabled young people across Northern Ireland to voice their concerns and opinions on the developing 10-year Children’s Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The Strategy is a 10-year plan that the government will use as guidance for work concerning young people. To ensure that the strategy is relevant to young people there has and should continue to be consultation around issues important to children and young people.

To ensure young people have a say, we have obtained their views on the issues that young people face. We asked how the problems highlighted could be resolved. We wanted to know young people’s opinion on what is wrong and how things could be made better. We then compared young people’s views with those set out within the draft 10-year Children’s Strategy.

On the postcards you can see images that we feel depict some of the issues for children and young people in society. On the back of the postcard is a short questionnaire, which was used to give young people the opportunity to “shout out soon” and voice your opinion.

1045 responses from children and young people throughout Northern Ireland were received, these responses were monitored and inputted into the final research document which is called the ‘Shout Out Soon’ report. The report was launched on 7th July 2004 and was presented to the Children and Young Peoples Unit in the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister so that 1045 participants can have their voices heard in relation to the draft children’s strategy for Northern Ireland.

The report is unique as it has been conducted by young people for young people, it received original and realistic suggestions for change which can improve young peoples lives. Both adults and young people have been impressed by the report and the findings. See the full ‘Shout Out Soon’ report for more information.

Click here to read the full SOS Report