A committee tasked with ensuring that the concerns of the island’s youth are both listened to and acted on has made steady progress in its efforts in the past year.

At a press conference, Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, praised the work of the National Youth Policy’s Office of Youth Affairs and its working group, claiming that a framework had now been established to carry out eight policy goals.

The Government devised a national youth policy at the end of 2022 and put together a “diverse“ team to implement the plan in order to ”reflect the broad needs of Bermuda's young people“.

Providing a review of the working group’s efforts in the past 12 months, Ms Furbert rattled off a checklist achievements, including research so that youth policy initiatives were aligned with international practices, hosting a series of youth forums, conducting youth surveys and holding a safeguarding workshop for independent organisations that focus on child welfare.

Ms Furbert added: “I am pleased to highlight that in alignment with the National Youth Policy and National Safeguarding Policy, the Office of Youth Affairs established a standard for organisations receiving grants. All organisations that interact with youth must have a child safeguarding policy in place to protect young people's health, wellbeing, and human rights.

“I commend everyone who has played a role in supporting the National Youth Policy and look forward to working with the Office of Youth Affairs to see that Bermuda's youth are engaged and empowered.”

Mr Furbert was joined at the press conference by Nadine Henry, senior youth services and development officer, and Theo Wolffe, chairman of the National Youth Policy Working Group.

Ms Henry said that the office of youth action had spent the past year focusing on two of the policy’s eight goals — protecting the young and vulnerable from harm, and reducing antisocial behaviour.

She said: “Collectively our focus is supporting Bermuda's young people to have positive and productive futures. I am thankful that the working group is comprised of a balanced array of voices of highly skilled and committed individuals. Working with them helps fuel our efforts in shaping strategies across various fronts.

“Recognising that organisations required support for establishing child safeguarding policies, in November 2023, the Office of Youth Affairs hosted an introductory workshop, entitled Safeguarding Across Borders, for organisations that work with children and young people. The event was productive, with several organisations participating.

“We also recognise antisocial behaviour continues to be a major concern in Bermuda, so during the fiscal year 2022-23, the Office of Youth Affairs provided grants to organisations that carry out the work to support youth to overcome antisocial behaviour.”

Ms Henry said that community centres were key resources in combating antisocial behaviour and have provided more than 30 “enrichment programmes” in the past year.

She also revealed that a conference for primary, middle, and secondary students will be held at the end of this month.

She said: “The conference is designed to give young people the opportunity to reflect on who they are and their place in society. Activities and breakout sessions will be designed in a way to allow young people to be vulnerable and speak on the topic diversity, equity, inclusion, being and belonging.

“We understand the changing needs of young people in the community, and the Office of Youth Affairs will continue to be positioned to support the National Youth Policy Working Group and provide youth programmes and services that lend support to our youth.”

• Online registration for the conference can be made from next Wednesday at www.toyaevents.bm. The working group’s 2023 progress report can be found at www.youthpolicy.bm. For more information, call the Office of Youth Affairs on 295-0855