Being a young person today means balancing education, friendships, family life and the pressures of planning your future, often while trying to find your place in a world that can feel like it was not built with you in mind. Yet despite these challenges, the narrative surrounding young people can often be negative; lazy, disengaged or destructive.
As Bedford’s Member of Youth Parliament, I believe it is time to Flip the Narrative
Flip the Narrative is more than a campaign, it is a movement to challenge outdated negative stereotypes and celebrate the talent, resilience and potential of young people across Bedford Borough. It is about ensuring that young people are not defined by assumptions, but by the positive contributions they make.
One way we are seeking to Flip the Narrative is through an initiative called Revise and Recycle. Working with the Bedford Borough Libraries team, we will be collecting old and no-longer-needed revision guides and educational resources, to redistribute to young people and families who need them most.
We want as many young people as possible to join us in Flipping the Narrative. If you have revision guides, textbooks, flashcards or other educational resources that you no longer need, please consider donating them at your local library. From Friday 24 July, you will find a Revise and Reuse donation box at Kempston, Bromham, Wootton, Putnoe and Bedford Central libraries.
You can find out more about the campaign, the UK Youth Parliament and the Bedford Borough Youth Cabinet, by dropping in to the Revise and Recycle Launch, at Central Library on Friday 24 July from 2-3.30pm. And if you are one of the first 10 people to leave a donation you will receive a £5 gift card for a local cafe.
Be part of the change – your old and unused materials could make a real difference to a young person preparing for their GCSEs or A Levels, helping to remove barriers to learning and ensure that every student has access to the resources they deserve
If you would like to get more involved or find out more, you can contact the Engagement and Development Team at voice@bedford.gov.uk or call/text them on 07468 472394.