Manchester is one of seven cities in the UK which has received a share of £2million funding from The Co-operative Foundation, the grant-making arm of The Co-operative Group, to tackle the negative images of young people through its Truth about Youth programme. Through this programme, the Royal Exchange Theatre are working hard alongside The Co-operative Foundation to support young people by helpin
g to challenge and change the widespread negative perceptions of young people. Manchester’s Truth about Youth will culminate in a two week festival in the summer of 2012: produced, programmed and project managed by teams of 14 to 19 year olds. They will be the decision-makers, creators, risk-takers, challengers and presenters of this festival – a festival which will be for everyone. In the run up we will be involving young people in creating cross-generational projects which explore our society’s attitudes to youth, and in a programme of mentoring and training with Royal Exchange senior managers and staff through which they will experience the practical skills required to lead arts projects, produce a programme of work, and manage a building. The project will also include a wide range of adults – media partners, community partnership groups, audience members, and the general public. Through this page we would like to spur discussion of what YOU think of young people today, do they deserve the negative treatment cast upon them by the media? Whatever your opinion, we would like to hear from you!
