More than 3,000 youngsters across Herefordshire have taken part in one of the county’s biggest ever youth surveys.
Herefordshire Council’s Youth Service team, who headed up the initiative, is delighted by the encouraging response.
The survey, aimed at giving young people a voice, covered services that were important to them, what needed improving and whether they felt part of the decision-making process?
Questionnaires were posted to more than 10,000 people aged between 13 – 18 from all over the county including Hereford, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
The data is now being compiled and analysed before the final results are published over the summer.
The information will be included in the Herefordshire Plan, the 10-year blueprint of service delivery across the county. The plan is currently being reviewed at the moment.
It is also hoped that the survey will raise awareness of Youth Councils, which Herefordshire Council’s Youth Service team is attempting to establish.
Youth Councils play an active role in representing the views of young people. They are run by young people for young people and ensure their voice is heard by local authorities.
The survey was a partnership between Herefordshire Council, Connexions and Herefordshire Partnership.
Organisers said the reply was proof that young people were interested in local issues and decision-making.
Herefordshire Council’s Community Youth Service Manager, Jon Ralph, said: “This is not a paper exercise and the response to the survey has been staggering. We are really delighted with the feedback that we have received.
“A lot of people say that young people are apathetic towards local issues and decision-making.
“But I believe that the reply we have had to this survey is proof that young people do care a great deal. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who responded.
“The results of the survey will be made public in the near future.”
As part of the survey prizes were up for grabs for those who completed the questionnaire. The lucky winner was Francesca Morriss, of Belmont, Hereford. She received £50. Ashley Morgan, of Madley, collected £25 and Susannah Bailey, of Pudleston, near Leominster, picked up £15.