The Northumberland Youth Advisory Council, NYAC, is a government-related youth voice

Youth voice

Youth voice refers to the distinct ideas, opinions, attitudes, knowledge, and actions of young people as a collective body. The term youth voice often groups together a diversity of perspectives and experiences, regardless of backgrounds, identities, and cultural differences...

 program in Northumberland County, Ontario

Northumberland County, Ontario

Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...

. The council provides scholarships, sponsors youth philanthropy

Youth philanthropy

Youth philanthropy is the donation of time, energy or resources, including money, by children and youth towards philanthropic causes. According to one study, "youth philanthropy is, at the broadest level, youth giving of their time, talents and treasure." It is seen as an effective means in which...

 programs, and hosts an annual Youth Opportunities Expo. Several members have been noted for their individual contributions to the Province of Ontario through the NYAC.

About

The Northumberland Youth Advisory Council is improves social economic opportunities for young people in Northumberland. Goals include empowering and connecting young people through the creation of a Youth Council as an advisory voice to municipal government; to engage and retain youth as part of a sustainable youth strategy for Northumberland; to create an information forum that actively communicates and promotes opportunities for youth in business, politics and culture.

Background

The Northumberland Youth Advisory Council was established in the fall of 2005. Composed of approximately 25 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 who represent various organizations throughout Northumberland, the organization is funded in part by the County of Northumberland. It is the first ever fully funded youth council

Youth council

Youth councils are a form of youth voice engaged in community decision-making. Youth councils exist on local, state, provincial, regional, national, and international levels among governments, NGOs, schools, and other entities.-About:...

 in the history of Northumberland County.

Membership

The membership is provided through a youth representative being forwarded by the Municipality of Brighton

Brighton, Ontario

Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, approximately east of Toronto and west of Kingston. It is intersected by both Highway 401 and the former Highway 2. It is on the West end of the Bay of Quinte on the entrance of the Murray Canal....

, Municipality (town) of Trent Hills

Trent Hills, Ontario

The Municipality of Trent Hills is a town in central-eastern Ontario, Canada, in northeast Northumberland County on the Trent River. It was created in 2001 through the amalgamation of the municipalities of Campbellford/Seymour, Percy and Hastings...

, Town of Cobourg

Cobourg, Ontario

Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...

, Municipality of Port Hope

Port Hope, Ontario

Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...

, Township of Cramahe

Cramahe, Ontario

Cramahe is a rural township located in Northumberland County in central Ontario, Canada.Joseph Keeler opened a store on the site of present-day Colborne about 1819. A community began to grow as other small businessmen followed suit...

, Township of Alnwick/Haldimand

Alnwick/Haldimand, Ontario

Alnwick/Haldimand is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in Northumberland County, situated between Lake Ontario and Rice Lake. It was formed in 2000 by the merger of Alnwick Township in the north and Haldimand Township in the south...

, Township of Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario (township)

Hamilton Township is a rural township located in Northumberland County in central Ontario. It surrounds the Town of Cobourg.The township was named after Henry Hamilton, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec from 1782-1785.-Communities:*Baltimore*Bewdley*Camborne...

, Campbellford District High School

Campbellford District High School

Campbellford District High School is a high school in the community of Campbellford in the municipality of Trent Hills, Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. it had 709 students...

, Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East, Cobourg Collegiate Institute West, and others.

The General Membership is a non-appointed position and is open to all youth ages 14 to 24 in Northumberland County. Its members assist the Directors in addressing those issues that impact youth.