Young people to have their say at Guildhall engagement event
24 September 2026
Young people from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area are being invited to take part in a unique engagement event that will bring them face to face with local decision makers.
Have your Say on Tuesday October 13th at the Guildhall will give them the opportunity to share their hopes and priorities with Elected Members and key statutory organisations through interactive activities and round-table discussions.
The event, led by the North West Ministry of Youth and supported by the EA Youth Service and North West Youth Services, comes following the Council area successfully achieving official UNICEF Child Friendly City and District designation.
The initiative is directly in keeping with the commitment to embed a child-rights-based approach directly into local strategy, public policy, service delivery and community decision making so that every child feels safe, heard, nurtured, and respected.
Aiming to create a safe and welcoming environment, the session will empower young people to share their experiences and aspirations while actively helping to shape conversations about the future of their City and District.
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, said she was looking forward to attending and connecting with the young people.
"This event will offer a genuine opportunity to hear directly from young people about the issues affecting their lives and the changes they would like to see in their communities.
"Having achieved our UNICEF Child Friendly status, this event highlights our pledge to ensure young people have a meaningful voice in local democracy.
“Our young people are our leaders of tomorrow and I am looking forward to listening to them so we can make more informed decisions about the issues that affect them.”
The event will focus on recognising young people as rights holders and active contributors to society, ensuring that their views directly inform local conversations and decision-making.
A spokesperson for the North West Ministry of Youth added: "Young people have a right to be heard on matters that affect their lives.
“This event provides a meaningful opportunity for young people to engage directly with decision-makers and contribute to shaping the future of the area.
“We look forward to facilitating honest and constructive conversations that place young people's voices at the centre."
Have your Say 2026 takes place on Tuesday October 13th from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at the Guildhall.
For further information on the event or Derry and Strabane’s UNICEF Child Friendly Status, visit derrystrabane.com/community/