The participation project at Voluntary Youth Manchester (VYM) has really taken off and consultations have been well underway with young people across the city consulting on what they think a new Manchester Youth magazine should look like, what size it should be and what content it should include. The new magazine will be online and in print and will have an accompanying dedicated Vimeo/YouTube channel all of which will be under the title ‘The Big I Am’
Votes are in and they sway towards a traditional A4 glossy magazine with a colourful graphic/illustrative style. To see some of the consultation images so far visit: ow.ly/qagOQ
Young people have suggested some fantastic ideas so far, amongst many others they have suggested that the ‘The Big I Am’ has a culture page, an FAQs page, a recipes for teens page, photography competitions, a regular meme of the month as well as links to comedy youtube videos and reviews of local talent in every area including graffiti.
The call for content is open for the February/March magazine. This call out is open to any youth group or individuals 13-25 years old in Manchester.
The theme of the first issue is simply, ‘The Big I Am’ so anything you can fit to this title.
VYM are asking for:
• An image, photograph or illustration
• Write a short story
• Write a poem or song
• Make a short film or documentary (no longer than 5 minutes)
VYM are also looking for these two things which can be on any theme:
• Unique re-wording of famous poems or rhymes i.e. this re-wording of the magpie rhyme: ‘One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a rainbow, four for things destroyed, five for dirty tactics, six for lies told and seven for a war that will never be resolved’ (By Jo)
• Or a small paragraph about something you love and something you hate about the world for the ‘Angry paragraphs’ and ‘Happy rants’ section i.e. Angry paragraph: ‘The government to me is a waste of time it’s like kids in the playground, My dad’s bigger than your dad’ and a Happy Rant: ‘There’s only two things I love in this world, one isn’t here anymore but one is, that’s my Nan and Bolton Wanderers’ (By Liam)
VYM are looking for Volunteers aged 16-25 to join their youth steering group.
The requirement is simply to be passionate about the project and to volunteer on average 8 hours per month (most of which is via email and working from home or your youth centre) and in return the volunteers will be trained to industry standard in all elements of creating and running the magazine online and in print.
These volunteer positions would start in January and the deadline to apply is Friday 13 December 2013. There are 12 positions available and more information can be found attached.
For further information, email Jo Lane, at: [email protected]
Follow VYM on twitter to hear all the news and upcoming opportunities: https://twitter.com/McrYouthMag
Check the VYM Network website for a competition to design the front cover of the first issue: www.vymnetwork.org.uk/the-big-i-am/
