A COVENTRY organisation has gained honorary status for giving a platform to the youth voice in the bid for UK City of Culture in 2021.
Positive Youth Foundation (PYF) has been given the title Honorary Partner for its contribution to the city’s efforts to land the prestigious title.
According to the organisation, young people have given their views on what the city needs from a successful bid.
Questions were asked about how the bid would help to tackle social issues and how Coventry’s youth can play a leading role should the city win.
Representatives from PYF also sit on the City of Culture Executive Board and have been at the heart of the bidding process from the very early stages.
Aside from that, they were involved in the launch of the bid at Godiva festival last year and they were present for the judges’ visit to the city.
They also delivered the bid’s final document to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and performed at the Changing Trax – Electric Proms at Warwick Arts Centre.
David Burbidge, chairman of Coventry’s bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021, said: “Winning UK City of Culture is about way, way more than holding a great year in 2021 – it’s about leaving a legacy and making an impact on the city that will bring benefits for years, if not decades, to come.
“That impact will be felt by young people in the city so, right from the outset.
“Positive Youth Foundation has been absolutely perfect in bringing us together with young people from a wide variety of backgrounds and in helping us to ensure the youth voice has spoken and been listened to throughout the process.”
“We are, therefore, delighted to bestow the title of Honorary Partner upon PYF and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
Susie Murphy, of PYF, said: “The team behind the bid have placed our young people right at the front and centre of what the city wants to achieve.
“By including young people in the governance of the bid it has given Coventry’s bid a fresh, exciting and edgy element to it.
“I have no doubt in my mind that Coventry needs to win UK City of Culture in 2021.
“There have been benefits to bidding but they are just the tip of the iceberg – Coventry could really see a step change socially, economically and culturally if we were to win it.
“PYF is proud to have been part of the bid so far and to become Honorary Partners.”
