Somerset wins AER Most Youth Friendly Award

Somerset has been selected as the ‘Most Youth Friendly European Region’ for 2009 by the AER (Assembly of European Regions). The award has been given to Somerset as a result of the contributions from a variety of teams within Somerset County Council to developing projects and initiatives focused on youth issues and raising their profile to the wider public.

This year’s theme was creativity, innovation and youth entrepreneurship and the AER judging panel commended Somerset for its involvement in such projects as the UK Youth Parliament, Somerset Children’s Parliament, Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF), Youth Capital Funding (YCF) and numerous other youth projects.

Cllr John Osman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "Somerset County Council aims to help give young people a chance to actively communicate the issues that matter to them. We’re proud that the variety of work carried out, by us and our partners across the county, has been recognised on such a big stage with a prestigious award for our hard work.”

The award will be handed over to Cllr Terry Napper, Member for Street, and Natalie House, European Co-ordinator, during the AER General Assembly on 27 November 2009.