Mission statement
Funky Dragon was a peer-led organisation. It aimed to give 0 to 25-year-olds the opportunity to get their voices heard on issues that affect them. It was created by young people of Wales and theGrand Council
The Grand Council was the main body of Funky Dragon, and comprised 100 young people: 4 from each of the 22 unitary authorities in Wales and 12 co-option seats for other organisations. The co-option seats were available for election at Funky Dragon's annual general meeting, usually held in July. The seats were detailed as follows. Members of the grand council are also elected onto the management committee where a chair was elected.Local Authority Wide Forums
Statutory Sector – 22 places. Voluntary Sector – 22 places. School Councils – 22 places. Equality – 22 places. (Per Local Authority) The term local authority-wide forum is used as some forums representing the geographical area of a local authority are either independent or are supported by an agency other than the Local Authority such as theAGM
Every year Grand Council representatives get the chance to meet with Assembly Ministers to question them on issues that are affecting young people across Wales. During the meetings, the young people are able to follow up on any issues talked of in a previous meeting and use the time to get to know the Ministers better. The questions are decided by the grand council, youth forums, specific interest groups and any other groups of young people wishing to ask a question and get an answer from Assembly Members. Past Ministers who have attended the meetings include Jane Davidson, Minister for Education Lifelong Learning and Skills and Jane Hutt, Minister for Assembly Business Equalities and Children The Funky Dragon AGM happens once a year in the Welsh Assembly's building in Cardiff Bay. The Grand Council and young people from across Wales are able to come together and discuss their views/opinions and then question Ministers during Question Time. The Grand Council members meet Ministers and Officials to discuss how young people from all over Wales can effect change at a national level. Time is then spent in the Assembly chamber to complete elections, declaration of accounts and any other business. Funky Dragon has become known for its 'Funky Dragon does the Oscars' award ceremony in the evening, recognizing the hard work and achievements of Grand Council RepresentativesSub-Groups
Each of the Sub-Groups has an Assembly Member responsible for the development of every area - included here are articles, reports, documents, proposals, committee minutes for each sub-group area. *Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills: *Minister for Sustainable Development and Planning: *Minister for Culture, Welsh Language and Sport: *Minister for Health and Social Care: *Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration: *Minister for Enterprise, Innovations and Networks: *Minister for Finance, Local Government and Public Services:Our Rights Our Story (OROS)
Our Rights Our Story is a report which was written by a steering group on behalf of the grand council. It was to inform the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child, how the rights of children in Wales are granted. In February 2006 Funky Dragon received funding to carry out the biggest piece of research into the views of young people in Wales. The project was steered by Grand Council members from Funky Dragon who were involved in developing the questions and activities, recruiting staff and analysing the results of the work. The views of over 12,000 young people were gathered through a national survey, workshops and interviews with special interest groups, and additional funding was received earlier this year for extra research into the views of over 2,500 children aged 7–10 (a separate report, Why do people’s ages go up not down? was produced). Our Rights, Our Story focused on specific areas of children’s rights •Education •Health •Information •Participation •Special Interest Groups Key findings identified by the children and young people included: •Increasing children and young people’s awareness that they have rights •The need for schools to offer guidance and support for young people to help them develop their opinions •Being listened to more by the government •For under 11’s to have a greater say in decisions affecting them. ‘Our Rights, Our Story’ has been submitted to the UNCRC in June 2008, alongside the Welsh Assembly Government report and the alternative NGO report, Stop, look, listen. more information can be found on the funky dragon websiteFunding and end
Funky Dragon received its core funding from the Welsh government from its creation in 2002 until its end in 2014. In its last complete financial year, it received £418,000 from the Welsh government, £326,000 from theNotes and references
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