A project addressing issues identified by young people in Torbay.
Who we are
30 young people
Where we're based
Paignton, Devon
When we started
2004
How we started
The project was set up in 2004 with funding from the Children's Society.
Our work
TNT members are the voice of young people in Torbay, helping to develop and promote the rights and opportunities of young people. They address the lack of facilities and opportunities in the area by running youth consultations and working with the local council to provide more places and activities to match young people's needs. Workshops and events are also developed by and for the young people, and they have trained Children's Services Managers.
Future plans
Before winning a Philip Lawrence Award in 2005, TNT were threatened with closure as the Children's Society was reviewing their funding. However, with the status gained from winning the award and the increased publicity, the Children's Society agreed to fund another worker, helping the project continue and develop. Winning the award has had a huge impact on the young people and their self esteem. It has helped the project get a much higher profile in the south west area from local press coverage, and given the young people a sense of purpose in what they are doing. The project has grown and developed. TNT are working in partnership with Save the Communities in Torbay to develop a consultation for other young people. They have developed multi-media activities, and visited youth centres, pupil referral units and schools. TNT consulted 300 young people, and gathered ideas about personal safety, the environment and bullying which have been fed back to Save the Communities who have made a commitment to continue working with them when developing the resulting projects.
Project website
http://www.torbay.gov.uk/index/education/participation/speakout.htm
TNT is not just a place to go after school, but much more. We run our project, we put forward our own ideas and we decide which pieces of work we do and how we should do it.
TNT member
