19-year-old Ronan Jennings is from Derry and studying for a foundation degree in music production at the North-West Regional College. Here he talks about taking part in our Voice Matters democracy programme aimed at empowering residents to tackle pressing community issues. This year’s Voice Matters theme for the area is "How do we make Derry/Londonderry a healthier place?"
“To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up. At my age, people don’t usually ask me or my friends what we think about things. I was the youngest person in a group of about 30. But it was brilliant being surrounded by so many different people and being listened to. To tell you the truth I spent a lot of time listening and learnt so much. “
I also felt a connection, a connection with people I would normally never get a chance to spend time with. People who had decided to make Derry their home, even people my granda’s age, sharing stories about how the city has changed over the years.
I had no idea how difficult life can be for some people just living a mile or two from where I live. Listening to their problems was an eye opener and the fact they were listening to ideas I had, to make positive changes in our community, was class.
One of those ideas was about more advocacy for young people. Every day in Derry, I see a lot of drink and drugs being taken and it’s sad. I suggested there should be a rehab centre to give more support to young people. There is such a lack of it and it’s so hard to get support at our age and waiting lists for help here are so long.”
I couldn’t believe parts of Derry have the lowest life-expectancy rates in Europe. That's a shocking thing to hear when it's your hometown. I suppose you can't ignore the impact that years of conflict and trauma have had on communities here.
The legacy of the Troubles is still affecting people's health, wellbeing and opportunities today, and Derry has carried more than its share of that burden. Hearing the facts made me realise that change won't happen on its own. It needs people who care enough to get involved.
One thing I learnt at the opposite end of the spectrum was about how old people felt. There is a serious loneliness epidemic in Derry where the older generation feel really isolated. There can be no excuse for that.
These are the areas where we can help. I’m actively looking into options where I can personally make a difference, and I would encourage others taking part in Voice Matters to do the same. It’s inspiring and makes you want to do more.
This year's theme for Voice Matters was "How do we make Derry/Londonderry a healthier place?"
It sounds like a huge question, but over the weekend of the programme which empowers local residents by bringing them together in ‘people’s panels’ and ‘citizens’ assemblies to find solutions to local issues, we got the chance to hear from people who are trying to make a real difference in our city every day.
The people who are running charities and working for the council. We met organisations working in health, wellbeing and community development, and every session gave us something new to think about.
Voice Matters showed me that everyone has a role to play, no matter your age. I came away feeling more connected to Derry than I ever have before. It's easy to complain that nothing changes, but this programme made me feel that young people can help shape the future if we're given the chance.
For me, that's what Voice Matters was all about. It's about giving people the confidence to speak, the opportunity to be heard, and the belief that their ideas can make a difference.
I left the programme with a stronger voice and with a lot more hope for the future of my city. It inspired me to keep doing charity work and trying to make a difference.”
Voice Matters Programme Manager, Ireland Twiggs said: “As a young person, Ronan’s contribution was incredibly valuable. In the past, youth voices have too often gone unheard in panels like this and in wider civic decisions. This programme allows for both individual and collective growth within communities, while also building people’s capacity to make local change and influence greater policy. As the name states, Voice Matters. People are best positioned to make decisions about their own communities.”
To find out more about Voice Matters