10 November 2005
Dundee Youngsters Urged to 'Go for It'
A day filled with fun, music, sport, culture and health is on offer to young people from across Dundee today (Thursday November 10) at a special event hosted by the University of Dundee.
Go Young People Dundee, which will be officially launched by Dundee United footballing stars Garry Kenneth and Greg Cameron, is designed to encourage young Dundonians of secondary school age to find out more about what their home city has to offer.
Organised under the auspices of the Dundee Partnership and involving the University, Dundee City Council, Careers Scotland, Abertay University, Dundee College, Dundee Rep, NHS Tayside and a wide variety of voluntary sector partners, the day will give city youngsters the chance to sample a range of activities, find out about careers and health issues and catch a glimpse of life on a university campus.
Based in and around the city’s Cultural Quarter - with a focus on Dundee University Students’ Association building - the programme of events includes street dance, fashion and DJ workshops, exhibitions, live bands, video games, films, cookery demonstrations, sports taster sessions and a disco.
Free entry to Dundee Contemporary Arts and Sensation is also on offer to those attending the event which is being held on a school-in-service day.
Professor Geoff Ward, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee, said he hoped the day would encourage young people to think about the range of opportunities open to them.
"We want to bring young people from all over Dundee to the university campus and the Cultural Quarter and make the links between the city and the university." he said. "It is about saying to youngsters - this area is part of your city and it is here for you to explore and enjoy.
"It is about building confidence and self-esteem and giving young people the ability to make the most of their city. It is also about giving young people a clearer picture of the education opportunities that exist here.
"We particularly want to reach those who might think that university is not for people like them. By hosting some of the events in DUSA we hope to help make imagining life as a student a more real possibility. Our message is come and have a look, find out for yourself what is on offer and what you can achieve and have some great fun in the process."
Stewart Murdoch, Dundee City Council Director of Leisure and Communities, who chaired the planning group, added that the event was aimed at encouraging youngsters in the city to 'go for it.'
"We want to promote that attitude and we’re hoping that the workshops and different events on offer will help do that."
Lord Provost John Letford said: "The ‘Go Young People Dundee’ event is an exciting way to inspire and educate our youngsters at the same time.
"The organisers have put together a tremendous day of events that covers a wide range of activities. I am sure that the young people who attend will discover many new things and will take their experiences forward into their futures."
Entry to the event is by ticket only. Tickets are free and have been promoted through the city’s secondary schools, The Corner and Careers Scotland.
NOTES TO EDITORS
There will be opportunities to take photographs of the different events throughout the day.
The event starts at midday and finishes with a disco at DUSA from 6.20pm to 8.30pm.
For more information visit the Go Young People Dundee website at www.gypd.org
The Dundee Partnership is the local Community Planning Partnership for the city.
Established under the Local Government Scotland Act, it brings together all public sector agencies and has representation from key voluntary sector, private sector and community partners.
For more information contact:
Hilary McNally
Press Office
University of Dundee
01382 344021
h.mcnally@dundee.ac.uk
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