VOLUNTEERS are needed to help set up youth councils in South and North Craven so young people in other parts of the district don't lose out, heard councillors.

Skipton has a youth council and was previously known as Craven Youth Council, but because it focuses on Skipton and has no members outside the town, it had changed it's name, heard a meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Committee of North Yorkshire Council.

Its chair, James Neill, told the meeting it did not seem fair to continue referring to it as a Craven group when it was just operating in Skipton.

He told the meeting in Skipton at Belle Vue Square that the youth council, which has been going since just before the coronavirus pandemic, was currently concentrating on its Keep Skipton Tidy campaign and also going into schools highlighting the dangers of underage vaping.

As part of its keep Skipton Tidy campaign it was inviting groups to send in pictures of themselves litter-picking which would then be put into a prize draw, with a cash prize.

It had also carried out a youth opportunities survey which asked questions of young people such as whether they were aware of groups and whether they felt safe.

He said most young people in Skipton were unaware of groups, activities or events taking place, but that most felt safe.

Councillor David Staveley (Con, Penyghent) asked why North Craven had been left out and while accepting the distances involved said it would be possible to link op virtually on Teams.

Cllr Philip Barrett, (Ind, Glusburn, Cross Hills and Sutton) added South Craven School had around 800 pupils and thought a youth council in the area would be a good thing.

Chloe Thwaites, North Yorkshire's youth voice and creative engagement officer, told the meeting she was happy to go into schools and talk about youth councils, but what was needed outside of Skipton was adult volunteers to get them off the ground.

All that was needed she said was a couple of adults, and she urged councillors to go to her with people who would be happy to facilitate a group.

Committee chair, Cllr Richard Foster (Con, Wharfedale) said he was unaware of any clubs for young people in his area, but thought that could be the fault of clubs not advertising themselves.

He said: "We need to make sure kids are aware of these things, and it is probably better coming from the youth council than us old crusties."