About EYSC

The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee (EYSC) is a voluntary group of young people aged between 13 and 19 years old (and up to 25 years old for young people with additional needs). At present, all the members from the Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee come from the South of Essex (namely Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford). This is due to it being a pilot scheme. If the committee is successful, this pilot will be expanded to cover the rest of Essex. The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee are here to engage with and involve a wide spectrum of young people.

  1. What Is A Youth Scrutiny Committee?
  2. What Will EYSC Do?
  3. What Difference Can It Make?
  4. Over To You

1. What Is A Youth Scrutiny Committee?

In Essex there are seven Scrutiny Committees made up of local elected councillors from all political parties. They monitor council decisions and review policies to make sure that Essex County Council (ECC) offers the best service that it can. The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee offers young people the opportunity to look at issues that are important to them regarding all services not just those within their community.

A key aim of the committee is to raise awareness of youth issues within Essex. According to the National Census of Local Authority Councillors 2008, the average age of councillors is 58 years old. The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee offers opportunities to look at important issues, talk to decision makers and put forward recommendations to make things better/more effective. This means that young people can have a bigger role in the decision making process. After all, who has better knowledge about issues affecting young people? 

2. What Will EYSC Do?

The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee will travel around Basildon, Castle Point and Rochford carrying out surveys and investigations as to what young people want the committee to look at. After a few months, the Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee will create a final report and the recommendations of the committee will be made. This report will go to Essex County Council for approval and the findings will be advertised widely to highlight the achievements of the Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee. You will be able to keep updated on the progress of the Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee, by regularly returning to this website and viewing the What We’re Doing section.

3. What Difference Can It Make?

The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee cannot make decisions. However, following consultation with other young people, they can report their findings to the people in charge of making the decisions and recommend changes or improvements. Excellent research, hard evidence and strong clear recommendations can really make a difference.

4. Over To You

The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee wants to hear from you about any issues you have, any issues you would like scrutinised, opinions you would like to voice, or what questions you think we should be asking. Let us know what you think in the Have Your Say section.  You can contact us via the website in the Contact Us section.

The Essex Youth Scrutiny Committee emails a newsletter to keep people up-to-date about the Committee's forthcoming events and meetings.  If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please send an email to - info@eysc.org.uk including your email address.