IT IS important young people share their views and help in the community, say Sidmouth Youth Council. Explaining the council was for the town's youth, vice chairman Caitlin Bowkett told the assembly: I know it is an obvious statement, but it's the ethos

IT IS important young people share their views and help in the community, say Sidmouth Youth Council.Explaining the council was for the town's youth, vice chairman Caitlin Bowkett told the assembly: "I know it is an obvious statement, but it's the ethos of the council in a nutshell."Youth in Britain today are a shrinking demographic and in our town the figures never really got much of a flying start anyway."We believe, as a minority group, and the future of this town, it is important for young people to share their views and help where we can in the wider community."We want to change the stereotype that has tragically become associated with the youth in this country and show we can be exuberant, fun, conscientious, interesting, and productive members of society."Caitlin, 14, attends Sidmouth College together with chairman Alex Ritchie, 18, and Mike Johnstone, 17, the council's secretary.Youth council members are aged 13 to 18 and meet monthly at Sidmouth Youth Centre to discuss issues and plan projects in Sidmouth.It has two liaison officers to pass its ideas to the town council and Sidmouth College."We are also indebted to the enthusiasm and endless patience of our local youth worker Mark Gerry and the eagerness and interest of Councillor Ann Liverton for helping the youth council run so smoothly and bringing our attention to issues and projects for which we can offer our input," said Caitlin.Its first major project will be a community clean up day on Friday, April 18 "to show the benefits of living in a clean and safe environment" in collaboration with Sidmouth Town Council, EDDC's StreetScene organisation, Sidmouth PCSOs, local businesses and Sidmouth Football Club.Caitlin said: "Without doubt, the community clean up day will be the first of many major projects we hope to undertake in the near future."Rest assured Sidmouth Youth Council will be here to work with the town council and the community to improve Sidmouth in the years to come.