'Your Future, Your Say' event

The event, a follow-up to the successful conference held in January, allowed Strabane District Council to engage more young people in the visioning process for Strabane District's regeneration.

The event, facilitated by young community leaders from YouthAction Northern Ireland, was fun and interactive. Young delegates from the future search conference gave a presentation on their experiences and young people gave their opinion on what was achieved at the conference and their priorities for regeneration. Local band Pontius Pilot aptly ended proceedings with an intimate gig.

Speaking after the event, the Council Chairman, Councillor Kieran McGuire said:

"I would like to personally thank the young people for attending and participating in this event. Young People's views are vitally important to us because they are, in effect, the future of Strabane District. Strabane District Council wants to create a district which young people can plan their futures in. A district where they would like to live, work and play. Young people are our greatest resource. We have a youthful population and we want to retain all the skills, creativity and vibrancy that they have here in Strabane District."

Chief Executive, Philip Faithfull added: "Strabane District has a lot to offer. We have a beautiful landscape, an award winning arts and conference centre and unique, boutique shops that you would not find in any of the major cities. We are looking to strengthen our linkages with the universities and bring more industry to Strabane District so that we can offer young people more career options and high paid, high skilled jobs. Whilst there has been significant progress, there still is much to do. That is why this event is so important. It has given us an insight into what way young people want Strabane District to be like in the future. We want young people to be proud of where they are from and be ambassadors for their district."

For more information on the youth event see http://www.strabanedc.com/your-future-your-say/ or log onto the 'Strabane District' facebook page.